Signs of Stress

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Signs of Stress

Stress can cause both mental and physical symptoms and the effects are different for different people. It is so important to recognize when your stress levels are out of control. The most dangerous thing about stress is how easily it can creep up on you. You can get use to it, it feels familiar, even normal and you don't notice how much it's affecting your life or health.

Stress Warning Signs and Symptoms

Cognitive Symptoms:	Emotional Symptoms:
Memory problems	Depression or unhappiness
Inability to concentrate	Sense of loneliness and isolation
Poor judgment	Feeling overwhelmed
Seeing only the negative	Agitation, inability to relax
Anxious or racing thoughts	Moodiness
Constant worrying	Irritability or short temper
Physical Symptoms:	Behavioural Symptoms:
Aches and pains	Eating more or less
Diarrhea or constipation	Sleeping too much or too little
Nausea, dizziness	Isolating yourself from others
Chest pain, rapid heartbeat	Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
Loss of sex drive	Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
Frequent colds	Nervous habits (eg nail biting, pacing)

Keep in mind that the signs and symptoms of stress can also be caused by other psychological and medical problems. If you're experiencing any of the warning signs of stress, it's important to see a doctor for a full evaluation. Your doctor can help you determine whether or not your symptoms are stress-related.

While experiencing one or two of the above symptoms may not be cause for concern, having a number of them may mean you are under more stress than you think. But recognizing the the symptoms and realizing you are under stress is the first and most important step. Next, learn how stress affects your health.

What are your personal signs of stress?

Even though there are some good examples of what causes stress, the key is finding what causes stress for you.

People react to stress in different ways and once you identify your signs, they can serve as your early warning signs.

You should assess yourself for four types of stress signs:

Changes in body functions and physical health
Changes in emotions and feelings
Changes in behaviour
Changes in thoughts

Changes in body functions and physical health.

Do you get more:	Are you noticing this?	Has someone else noticed this?
Backache
Muscle Tension
Nervous Stomach
Breathing Problems
Frequent Urination
Fatigue
Dizziness

Changes in emotions and feelings

Do you feel more:	Are you noticing this?	Has someone else noticed this?
Irritable
Sad
Worried
Tense
Angry

Changes in behaviour.

Are there changes in how much you:	Are you noticing this?	Has someone else noticed this?
Sleep
Eat (too much or too little)
Want Sex (more or less than before)
Drink Alcohol
Use Drugs

Changes in thoughts.

Are there changes in how much you:	Are you noticing this?	Has someone else noticed this?
Remember Things
Concentrate
Look on the Bright Side
Do you find yourself:
Helpless
Hopeless

Now you have pin pointed some early signs, try and relate the stress that is causing these symptoms.