What do pilots, hairstylists and farmers have in common? Terribly high levels of stress, according to an online survey of 2000 South Africans in more than 40 occupations. Stress triggers included having to travel, the job's physical and mental demands, deadlines, number of hours worked, being subjected to public scrutiny, exposure to conflict and physical risk.Pilots took the top spot because of their long working hours, the risk to themselves and others intrinsic to flying, and the taxing physical and mental demands.Hairstylists said they not only dealt with unmanageable hair but also with unmanageable deadlines. They are exposed to myriad fumes and noises, and suffer from chronic back pain as a result of standing for many hours.Farmers, contrary to the common perception that they lead a quiet country life, also reported high levels of stress.The survey was by Pharma Dynamics, which specialises in medication for the treatment of depression and anxiety.A synopsis of the study, on the SA Depression and Anxiety Group website, said about 74% of respondents reported experiencing one or more of the following when they were depressed: trouble concentrating, forgetfulness and indecisiveness."According to nearly half of the participants with depression, the cognitive symptom that most affected their ability to perform work tasks as they normally would was difficulty concentrating.''..