Is stress a part of a typical day at the office for you? What is it about work that has this effect on us? According to Bill DeLeno C.S.W, founder of Job Stress Help, an Internet service providing confidential individualized advice to those experiencing job stress, there are several common sources of work-related stress. Here are the biggies, and some advice on how to handle them.

A Difficult Boss

Whether your boss is a bully, a pushover, clueless or just generally inept, your stress level skyrockets whenever he or she enters the room. DeLeno's first bit of advice is to keep a logbook of all the boss's transgressions. Be specific in your complaints -- include the date, time and place of each misdeed. If you do decide to file a formal complaint, you will have the documentation you need to pack a punch.

If you're being harassed, notify your HR department or another supervisor of what's happening. To learn more about filing viable complaints, check out the information provided by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the American Bar Association's Guide to Workplace Law.

Meanwhile, learn how to best handle your boss. DeLeno says people often don't know how to approach a difficult boss or are afraid to initiate a conversation. Role-playing how you would handle a discussion with your boss with a trusted coworker can give you the practice and confidence you need to deal with this situation successfully.

A Difficult Coworker

The same rules apply with a difficult coworker. In this situation, however, you can go to your boss for help. Again, be specific in your complaints by providing concrete examples. Your boss may direct you back to the coworker to attempt to address the problem yourself. Again, role-playing with a friend can help you practice handling the situation.

You should not talk directly with a coworker about a problem if you suspect he or she may become violent. If you have any reason to believe a coworker could react violently at work, notify your supervisor immediately.

Too Much Work, Too Little Time

If you can never dig out of the avalanche of work on your desk, the problem is not you -- it's your job. Getting over this dilemma requires an attitude adjustment. If you are an organized, hardworking, efficient employee, accept that there will always be more work to do than you can finish. Focus only on work that is a priority. Learn to let things go. The worst thing you can do is stay later and later at work in an effort to catch up. If you feel the urge to do this, keep this in mind:

• If you're working this hard, your company needs to hire more people.
• If you've notified your supervisor of the strain you're under, it's now his or her responsibility to find a solution.
• Ask yourself why you are working so hard for a company that is unconcerned about your well-being.

Long Hours

If working long hours is a job requirement and unavoidable, it may seem that you never get any relief from your job's stress. The key here is to make the absolute best use of the time you do have off and create time off for yourself during your busy day.

On the rare day off from work, your mind needs a complete respite from your job. Try to relax, exercise or spend time with friends and family without thoughts of work creeping in and ruining your precious time off.

While you're at work, it's important to build in several mini breaks throughout your day. Ideally, DeLeno recommends taking three 15-minute breaks a day. It may be difficult to truly relax during this time off initially, but with practice, the noise in your head will eventually subside and you can enjoy this brief interlude.