Stress: Signs and Symptoms

Stress can cause a lot of problems in ones life. It can affect you physically and mentally. Stress can bring on dangerous physical problems such as asthma, back pain, digestive problems and headaches. It can decrease your appetite, it can affect you sexual behavior, cause you to consume alcohol or other elicit drug. My husband actually started developing a bald spot, removed the stress, his hair grew back. It can ruin relationships and cause you severe social problems.

Everyone handles stress differently, some people go to work and live a daily life full of stress and deal with it as if it is second nature, while others have become totally incapacitated by the affects of stress. Some individuals totally shut down.

One of the first things you will want to do if you have been dealing with a lot of stress that is not the norm for you is visit your family doctor and see what they recommend. Make sure that you are ahead of the game so that the affects of stress don't lead into a serious illness. Once you have this figured out, you can move on.

Try to eat a proper diet, get exercise and get a good nights rest. Keeping our bodies fit is the best mechanism to fit off anything that may impose harm on us.

Find what makes you feel better, everyone is different. I like to read, it calms me down and slows my body down. Some folks use meditation, some exercise, some spend time with their animals, everyone is different. Find your thing and do it.

The most important thing to do is to be aware, educate yourself on the signs and symptoms of stress.

Intellectual Symptoms:

Memory problems. Difficulty making decisions. Inability to concentrate. Confusion. Seeing only the negative. Repetitive or racing thoughts. Poor judgment. Loss of objectivity. Desire to escape or run away.

Physical Symptoms:

Headaches. Digestive problems. Muscle tension and pain. Sleep disturbances. Fatigue. Chest pain, irregular heartbeat. High blood pressure. Weight gain or loss. Asthma or shortness of breath. Skin problems. Decreased sex drive.

Emotional Symptoms:

Moody and hypersensitive. Restlessness and anxiety. Depression. Anger and resentment. Easily irritated and "on edge". Sense of being overwhelmed. Lack of confidence. Apathy. Urge to laugh or cry at inappropriate times.

Behavioral Symptoms:

Eating more or less. Sleeping too much or too little. Isolating yourself from others. Neglecting your responsibilities. Increasing alcohol and drug use. Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing). Teeth grinding or jaw clenching. Overdoing activities such as exercising or shopping. Losing your temper. Overreacting to unexpected problems.