April is Stress Awareness Month.
But stress, as we understand it today, is not what it used to be.
For decades, stress was viewed as a temporary reaction—something to “push through.” It wasn’t until the late 20th century that psychology began recognising that prolonged stress can fundamentally alter the brain, behaviour, and emotional regulation.
In fact, the inclusion of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) in 1980 marked a turning point. For the first time, the mental health field formally acknowledged that exposure to overwhelming stress could result in a defined psychological condition—not weakness, not failure, but a human response to adversity.
Since then, our understanding has expanded significantly.
Today, these conditions sit under Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders in the DSM-5, reflecting a shift away from seeing stress purely as anxiety, and toward recognising its broader impact on cognition, mood, and the nervous system.
And the numbers are telling:
• Globally, an estimated 3.9% of people will experience PTSD in their lifetime, with rates rising significantly among those exposed to trauma.
• In high-stress or trauma-exposed populations, prevalence can range from 5.6% up to 36%.
• Studies continue to show increased rates of stress-related conditions following major global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is becoming increasingly clear, especially in research emerging over the past few years, is that stress is not just about events.
It is about context.
It is now understood as something shaped by lived experience: ongoing pressure, relational dynamics, socio-economic strain, and even systemic environments. The conversation is shifting from “What happened to you?” to “What are you carrying, and for how long?”
This matters, because when it becomes chronic, it doesn’t just pass. It accumulates—impacting the body, the nervous system, relationships, and one’s sense of self.
April is not just about recognising stress. It is about recognising when support is needed.
If you’ve been holding more than your system can comfortably carry, you don’t have to do that alone. You can message me to schedule an appointment to empower yourself to better handle stress and a life filled with demands.
— Laurian Ward Counselling Psychologist
