CUSP stands for Control, Uncertainty, Support and Pressure, a recipe for stress. The framework of some Scottish psychologists, it helps understand its causes. Lack of Control is whatever you do not working. Uncertainty is not knowing how things are going to work out from this point on. Lack of Support is when you don’t have anyone to turn to and the people around you aren’t helping. Pressure is the demands made of you by others or yourself.
C for Control.
If you are subject to forces you can’t do anything about, it’s worrying. If you have some agency, and you can do something about the problem it’s no so bad.
U for Uncertainty.
If there is a lot of risk involved and the consequences are great, you feel more worried.
S is for lack of Support.
If there are people, systems at your side you can turn to, they can reassure you.
This may be why women are supposed to be better at handling stress than men. Men are reluctant to ask for help. Women break down and are comforted.
P is for Pressure,
Self-imposed or by others. Goals, standards, obligations, restrictions make it hard to relax.
Pressure and stress are different. Stress is a feeling, a reaction to pressure, which is kind of external, being imposed. The reaction to the pressure depends on the control, uncertainty and support aspects of CUSP.
Me atBack to POSSE