You're under pressure, probably spinning several plates at a time, but decisions have to be made and every decision has implications. It's a scenario that could apply as much to someone on the floor of the stock-market, to an air-traffic controller, to a mother trying to get the kids off to school and not be late for work herself.

In a technical sense the word ‘stress' describes the point where our abilities to deal with situations or events become so diminished we find it hard or...