Stress is no longer a private inconvenience but a global epidemic undermining health, productivity, and family life. A leading clinical psychologist, Dr Dorah Awuah also a lecturer at the University of Ghana has revealed.
Speaking at the launch of her new book title “Breaking the Cycle of Stress in Accra”, she described the condition as “one of the most urgent health challenges of modern life.”
“Stress is essentially the mental tension that arises when individuals perceive situations negatively,” she explained. While short-term stress can sometimes be beneficial, for example motivating people to prepare for exams or meet deadlines, prolonged or chronic stress is destructive. “When anxiety becomes overwhelming, preventing people from carrying out their daily routines, it transforms into distress. That is the form of stress that damages health.”
Dr Awuah outlined the physiological toll of chronic stress, linking it to hypertension, diabetes, weakened immunity, and even cancer. She warned that stress also contributes significantly to mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. “We often dismiss stress casually, but its impact can be severe and life-threatening,” she said.
The economic burden is equally alarming. Citing World Health Organization data, she pointed out that millions die globally due to stress-related illnesses and reduced productivity. Stress, she argued, has become “an epidemic of our time,” affecting children, adolescents, and adults alike. Women, she noted, are particularly vulnerable due to biological and emotional factors.
Workplace environments are a major source of what she termed “organisational stress.” Poor salaries, hostile management, and unfriendly policies create tension that erodes morale and physical health. “Many employees dread going to work because of fear of harsh treatment from superiors. Over time, this erodes both morale and physical health,” she observed.
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Dr Awuah emphasised that stress cannot be entirely prevented but can be managed. Everyday situations such as traffic congestion become less harmful depending on how individuals perceive them. “The cure for stress lies in the mindset. Positive thinking, small daily choices, and resilience are the real medicine,” she said.
Her book, Breaking the Cycle of Stress, which contains six chapters, offers practical tools to help readers cope with daily pressures before they escalate into chronic illness. Drawing on clinical observations, personal experiences, and simplified psychological theories, the book explains how exercise, social interaction, and positive reframing of painful experiences can reduce stress. It also highlights how unmanaged stress undermines relationships, lowers libido, and contributes to fertility challenges. “Couples struggling to conceive must consider stress as a factor. Peace of mind and intentional stress management are essential,” she advised.
Dr Awuah concluded with a stark warning: “Stress is pervasive, affecting adolescents, adults, men, and women alike. It is not a passing inconvenience. It is a public health issue that demands urgent attention.”
By Kweku Bolton
