Stress, also referred to as psychological distress, can be caused by a variety of physiological, psychological and emotional factors. When a person is suffering extreme stress, raised cortisol levels in the brain can physiologically damage both the structure and the functioning of the brain. Other physiological effects can include cardiovascular and gastrointestinal changes in the body (Frodi & O’Keane 2013). Psychological harm can also occur when a stressed individual resorts to harmful behaviours such as excessive use of alcohol or recreational drugs in an attempt to cope with their stress. Anxiety or mood disorders may also be indicators of excessive stress and may damage mental health (Hogan, 2013). One indicator of emotional stress is burnout, or emotional exhaustion, which leads to decreased performance in the activities of daily living.