Symptoms of stress

Signs and symptoms of stress

We all have challenges and obstacles to overcome and sometimes the pressure is too hard to bear. When we feel overwhelmed or unable to do what others can expect from us, we feel stress. In small doses, stress can be a good thing, it can motivate you to give the best of yourself by staying focused. For example, the stress of exams is what makes you stay in your room to study rather than go watch TV. But when you feel that you are being asked too much, stress becomes a threat to your physical and emotional well being.

What is stress?

Stress is a psychological and physiological response to events that in one way or another challenge our personal balance. We all know what the first effects of stress look like: strong heartbeat, tension in the muscles, accelerated breathing, all our senses are on the alert.

Biological stress is there to protect us and help us. For example, this was what helped our cave ancestors survive in the life and death situations they commonly faced. Today, most of the stress we feel is in response to psychological "more than physical" "threats".

If you have many sources of worry and responsibility, you may be walking a lot of your time. The problem with stress is that the stronger it is, the harder it is to calm down. Instead of returning to their lowest level during stress, stress hormones, heart rate and blood pressure remain high.

Prolonged exposure to stress increases the risk of heart disease, obesity, anxiety, depression and memory problems. Because of the wide range of consequences that stress can cause, it is essential to learn how to manage stress in a more positive way to reduce its effects on your daily life.

Signs and symptoms of stress

To regain control of your stress, you must first know how to recognize it. Stress affects the mind, body and behavior in a variety of ways. The specific signs and symptoms of stress vary greatly from person to person. Some people first experience physical symptoms such as stomach upset or back problems. Other people feel their emotional stress with hypersensitivity for example. Finally, for others, changes will occur in their thinking and behavior.

The following table lists the most common signs and symptoms of stress. Use it to identify the symptoms you have when you are stressed. If you learn to recognize these warning signs, you can better prepare yourself to manage your emotions before you lose control.

Signs and symptoms of stress
Cognitive symptoms	Emotional symptoms
Memory problems Difficulties in making decisions Inability to concentrate Disorders of judgment General pessimism Anxious thoughts Constant worry Loss of objectivity and judgment Negative anticipations	agitation Irritability, impatience Feeling tired Inability to relax and unwind Feel on edge Feeling of isolation and loneliness Depression or generalized sadness

Physical symptoms	Behavioral symptoms
Headaches or back pain Muscle tensions Diarrhea or constipation Nausea Insomnia Pains in the chest, fast heart rate Loss or weight gain itch Frequent colds	Eat a lot more or a lot less Sleep a lot more or a lot less Isolation Procrastination, flight from responsibility Abuse of alcohol, cigarettes or medications to relax Over-activity in some areas (sport, shopping) Over-reaction to unforeseen problems Nervous habits (biting nails)

Keep in mind that the signs and symptoms of stress can also be caused by other psychological or medical issues. If you think you have stress-related symptoms, it is important that you go to a doctor for a full assessment. It can help you determine whether your symptoms are stress-related or not