What are the symptoms of stress? Do you know how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress in yourself?
I know when I am stressed because my weight fluctuates, my hair sheds more than usual and falls out, and I find people more annoying than usual. Recognizing the symptoms of stress I had, forced me to deal with the issue. I could no longer ignore it because I wanted my hair back.
Stress, when ignored can cause severe health problems and illnesses. Stress is not a one size fits all issue; what stresses you, may not stress me and vice versa. So, symptoms will vary from person to person. Most signs and symptoms will develop when you experience episodic and/or chronic stress, so we must learn to recognize them when it appears.
To effectively manage stress, we must know how our mind and body responds and reacts to stress. By recognizing the symptoms of stress in our life; we can begin to develop plans to cope and manage our stress. The signs symptoms can be categorized into behavioral, emotional/mental, and physical.
Classifying the Symptoms of Stress
Behavioral
- Restlessness
- Teeth Grinding
- Overeating or Under Eating
- Substance Use
- Social Withdrawal
- Sleep Disturbances
- Procrastination
- Jaw Clenching
- Nervous Habits
- Impulse Buying
- Increased Gambling
Emotional/ Mental
- Anxiety
- Feeling Overwhelmed
- Irritability
- Anger issues
- Sadness
- Depression
- Excessive Worry
- Loss of Motivation
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Crying Spells
- Feelings of Loneliness
- Excessive Defensiveness
- Excessive Suspiciousness
Physical
- Sweating
- Headaches/ Migraines
- Nausea
- Chest Pain
- Back Pain
- Fatigue
- Tremors
- Difficulty Breathing
- Hair loss
- Weight Fluctuating
- Skin Outbreaks
Once we are aware of the stress and recognize the signs and symptoms we have; we can begin to implement a plan and develop strategies to manage our stress. We can also use our knowledge to reduce the symptoms and to avoid stressful situations in the future.