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Good Question: What Causes Stress In Americans' Lives?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – About half the people surveyed in a recent poll claim to have had a "major stressful" event within the past year.

National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health conducted the nationwide survey.

Whether it's job stress, home stress or even health concerns, finding time to relax is rare.

The survey polled 2,500 adults, and the nearly 1,250 adults who said they experienced a "great deal" of stress over the past month show that finding time to relax is certainly a rarity.

"We aren't built real well to handle things that are kind of threatening, or pressure, or persist over time," said psychologist and author Dr. David Walsh.

Like health-related problems.

That was the most common source of stress in the survey.

Walsh said the fast pace of our lives offers little breaks and little time to heal.

He said things that are supposed to make our lives easier end up causing more stress. Emails, voicemails, and even social media can add stress.

"Our brains are not built to multi-task and yet we all do it," said Walsh.

Walsh said the job, money and too many responsibilities sometimes leads to sleeping less, not eating right and even alcohol abuse.

He said talking about your stress with others can help reduce it.

"A joy shared is twice a joy. A grief shared is half a grief. I think a worry shared tends to make it a little more manageable," said Walsh.

Walsh said exercising is a proven stress reliever too.

This survey showed that some people, mostly young adults, don't mind doses of stress because it gets them going.

Walsh said the problem is if it persists over time it can actually break you down- and that can lead to health problems

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