While low levels of stress can actually help us, for example, by getting essential projects finished at work before an important deadline, people who are barely coping with stress can reach burnout.

Paul Grant of Gladstone Psychology Services told the Gladstone Observer that a certain amount of stress is acceptable - and expected - in everyday life.

"Some stress can actually improve our performance on tasks, but we can get to a point where we have passed our optimal performance levels and additional stress then can cause a decline in our performance," he noted.

Individuals who are dealing with stress may also be struggling with a primal 'fight or flight' reaction produced by the body as a response to pressured situations, Mr Grant said.

"Adrenalin is released in large quantities, physical strength actually increases, metabolism is increased and more energy is made available to the muscles in the body, more blood is made available to the areas that need it the most, pupils dilate, blood clotting ability is increased (in case of being bitten or scratched), pain perception is decreased and breathing efficiency is improved."

However, this natural response is unnecessary in most day-to-day environments, and could actually be a problem when we try to address psychological scenarios, such as tackling relationship difficulties or paying an overdue bill, he claimed.

But there are steps we can take to manage stress when we feel frazzled. Regular exercise is known to help people relax, so aim to do 30 minutes of physical exercise three times a week to release natural painkilling hormones.

You could also try practising specific relaxation techniques and breathing patterns that make you feel calm.

"Make a point of setting aside time to do some things you enjoy," Mr Grant added.