What is stress?

A good definition is that it’s a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.

We’ve all had that sinking feeling when a client messages that a horse that was shod yesterday has come up lame. A delivery of shoes that was needed for today hasn’t arrived. An important horse has pulled off another shoe and wrecked its foot. A client hasn’t paid for the last two visits and you’re due there again.

These are all stressors that are built into our day without realizing it. A family member is having problems and doesn’t want to talk about them. Your doctor has called you for a chat about test results. You have colleagues in your organization who don’t pull their weight.

How can we recognize it in ourselves and others? This is important because although no one lives in isolation, a sufferer could sometimes wish they did. Some people would like to live in isolation, but wish they didn’t and so on.

Businesses can be under stress, as well. What are those signs? Are there disputes…