What are the symptoms of stress?
Physical symptoms
Physical symptoms can be caused by other illnesses, so it
is important to have a medical doctor treat conditions such
as ulcers, compressed disks, or other physical disorders. Remember,
however, that the body and mind are not separate entities.
The physical problems outlined below may result from or be
exacerbated by stress:
sleep
disturbances
back, shoulder or neck pain
tension or migraine headaches
upset or acid stomach, cramps, heartburn, gas, irritable
bowel syndrome
constipation, diarrhea
weight gain or loss, eating disorders
hair loss
muscle tension
fatigue
high blood pressure |
irregular
heartbeat, palpitations
asthma or shortness of breath
chest pain
sweaty palms or hands
cold hands or feet
skin problems (hives, eczema, psoriasis, tics, itching)
periodontal disease, jaw pain
reproductive problems
immune system suppression: more colds, flu, infections
growth inhibition |
Emotional symptoms
Like physical signs, emotional symptoms such as anxiety or
depression can mask conditions other than stress. It is important
to find out whether they are stress-related or not. In either
case, the following emotional symptoms are uncomfortable and
can affect your performance at work or play, your physical
health, or your relationships with others:
nervousness,
anxiety
depression, moodiness
“butterflies”
irritability, frustration
memory problems
lack of concentration |
trouble
thinking clearly
feeling out of control
substance abuse
phobias
overreactions |
Relational symptoms
The antisocial behavior displayed in stressful situations
can cause the rapid deterioration of relationships with family,
friends, co-workers, or even strangers. A person under stress
may manifest signs such as:
increased
arguments
isolation from social activities
conflict with co-workers or employers
frequent job changes |
road rage
domestic or workplace violence
overreactions |
Severe stress reactions that persist for long periods of time
and recur without warning after a traumatic event or even after
an intense experience such as an accident, hospitalization,
or loss, may become a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
requiring professional assistance to overcome.
What triggers your stress response?
Except for major catastrophes, few events are stressful in
themselves. Stress arises when you perceive a situation as
threatening. For example, your morning commute may make you
anxious and tense because you worry that traffic will make
you late. Others, however, may find the trip relaxing because
they allow more than enough time and enjoy playing music or
listening to books while they drive.
Stress is often associated with situations that you find difficult
to handle. How you view things also affects your stress level.
If you have very high expectations, chances are you'll experience
more than your fair share of stress.
Take some time to think about the things that cause you
stress. Your stress may be linked to external factors such
as:
the state of the world, the country, or any community to which
you belong
unpredictable events
the environment in which you live or work
work itself
family
Stress can also come from your own:
irresponsible behavior
poor health habits
negative attitudes and feelings
unrealistic expectations
perfectionism
How serious are your stress symptoms?
Acute strss
In determining how to cope with your stress symptoms, it is
helpful to know what type you are experiencing. According to
the APA Help Center’s The Different Kinds of Stress, the most
common form of stress, acute stress, results
from “demands and pressures of the recent past and anticipated
demands and pressures of the near future.”
The University of Maryland Medical Center’s What Are The Biological
Effects Of Acute Stress? likens the effects of acute stress
to imagining yourself in a primitive situation, such as being
chased by a bear. During situations where you experience acute
stress, you’ll likely experience increases in your heartbeat
and breathing. Your skin might feel cool and clammy and you
might notice a change in appetite.
In small doses, acute stress may feel exciting, but too much
eventually becomes exhausting and taxing on the body, mind,
and spirit. Most people are able to recognize the symptoms
of acute stress. Common symptoms include:
emotional distress (irritability, resentment, anger, anxiety,
and depression)
muscular problems (tension headache, back pain, jaw pain, etc.)
problems involving the stomach, gut, and bowels (heartburn, diarrhea,
constipation, irritable bowel syndrome)
Acute stress symptoms often appear when something major happens
in your life like moving, changing jobs, or experiencing a
loss of some kind. You might feel stressed when something goes
wrong or happens unexpectedly—when you are involved in a car
accident or your child gets hurt at school, for example. Normally,
our bodies rest when these types of stressful events cease
and our lives get back to normal. Because the effects are short-term,
acute stress normally does not have the same effects and extensive
damage associated with long-term stress.
Episodic acute stress
If you endure acute stress frequently, you probably are experiencing episodic
stress. Your life might feel disorderly, in perpetual
crisis, chaotic, or out of control. The APA Help Center notes
that you are likely experiencing episodic stress if you:
are always rushing and always late
take on too much and have “too many irons in the fire”
feel over-aroused, short-tempered, anxious, and/or tense most
of the time
describe yourself as having “a lot of nervous energy”
have “worry wart” tendencies (focus on negative possibilities
and anticipate crisis or disaster in most situations)
If you experience episodic acute stress, you are seemingly
always facing a new stressful situation.
Chronic stress
The APA Help Center describes chronic stress as “unrelenting
demands and pressures for seemingly interminable periods of
time.” Chronic stress is stress that wears you down day after
day and year after year and seems endless. Common causes of
chronic stress include:
poverty and financial worries
dysfunctional families
caring for a chronically-ill family member
feeling trapped in unhealthy relationships or career choices
long-term unemployment
personal belief systems (i.e., believing that the world is a
threatening place or you that must be perfect at all times)
traumatic experiences
Chronic stress has been going on for so long, that it is often
not recognized by those experiencing it—you may just accept
it as part of your personality. Chronic stress may also stem
from traumatic experiences that have changed the brain and
become internalized, causing recurrent painful and stressful
feelings.
Why should you learn to cope with stress?
In the best of all possible worlds, when a stressful situation
ends, hormonal signals switch off the stress response, and
the body returns to normal. Unfortunately, stress doesn't always
let up. If you tend to harbor anxiety, and you worry about
daily events and relationships, your stress response never
shuts down. Studies show that long-term activation of stress
symptoms can have a hazardous, even lethal effect on your body.
When the signs of stress persist, you are at risk for many
health problems that people often do not realize are, in large
part, attributable to stress, such as:
obesity
heart disease
cancer
depression
anorexia nervosa or malnutrition
obsessive-compulsive or anxiety disorder
substance abuse |
ulcers
diabetes
sexual abuse
hyperthyroidism
hair loss
tooth and gum disease |
As if this weren't enough, stress adversely affects reproduction,
sexual behavior, and growth. Stress inhibits the immune system,
making you more vulnerable to colds, flu, fatigue and infections.
It causes digestive problems and can even lead to suicide.
Source Rolf
Rasmusson
Healthy Diet