There is something that everyone in this world tends to encounter; stress is that thing. For most people, stress is a daily reality. For others, it may just be a once in a while occurrence. It can also affect our personal relationships without us even realizing that was the main problem. Stress is “a person’s response to threatening or difficult events” (Feldman, 2010). Since there are many types of stressors, they can be classified into different categories. Stressors can be categorized as cataclysmic events, personal stressors, or even background stressors (“daily hassles”). However, no matter what type of stress we experience, there is always a way to deal with it and prevent it from damaging our relationships. Even if it is a daily or one-off event. Thousands of people have experienced an earthquake at some point in their lives. An earthquake can be a type of stressor. This type of stressor is called a cataclysmic event. These events are “powerful stressors that occur suddenly and typically affect many people simultaneously” (Feldman, 2010). Although some may think that all kinds of stress persists, this is usually not the case in these cases. In most cases, this causes relief, as people believe that the worst has already happened and continue their day with perhaps even less stress. For example, if I was shopping at the mall while my mother was at work and suddenly I felt a strong earthquake, I would start to worry that my mother works in a large building nearby. Then I would do everything I can to get in touch with her to find out if she is okay and unharmed. Then I would feel relieved to know that she is okay. When a big event in life happens, we start...... middle of paper ...... ilad, 2010) Overall, no matter what category we put stress into, it will always be part of our lives. Either as a motivator or as a problem that gets in the way. Cataclysmic events, personal stressors, contextual stressors are happening all around us and the only thing we can do is deal with it all. Once we know how stress affects us in our relationships and in our daily lives, the easier it is for us to cope with it. Works Cited Feldman, RS (2010). Psychology and your life. Boston: McGraw/Hill. Naseem, Z. and Khalid, R. (2010). Positive thinking in the face of stress and health outcomes: A review of the literature. Journal of Research & Reflections in Education (JRRE), 4(1), 42-61. Turner, E. (2012). The race for good health. 4 Ways to Cope with Stress, retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-race-good-health/201212/4-healthy-ways-cope-stress