Symptoms of stress

Symptoms of stress at a glance!

The first step to wellness is knowing what your personal symptoms of stress are. Many of the people I work with, ignore their stress symptoms. I myself from time to time take that attitude...

...especially when I want to look good to the people around me. I don't want to show people that I may not be coping. If, for whatever reason, you are not coping with stress, you may think you are weak. I know in times of stress, I often have.

But it doesn't make you weak. All it says is that you are human. Everyone goes through tough periods.

The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research points out that each of us responds differently to stress. Our responses are partly determined by our genes, but they are also influenced by level of environmental stress you were exposed to as a child.š

There is a young man I work with, who was exposed to violence from birth. He tends to immediately feel very alone and fearful. Years ago his response was to try suicide. Now that he knows himself better, he is able to handle the feelings that come up and do something about them.

So your stress symptoms will look different to those of your friends and colleagues. Do not compare yourself to others. You are on your own journey. Get to know yourself...

Learn how you think, feel, and act when you are under too much stress.

...Find out what your symptoms of stress look like.

I'm starting with physical symptoms because they are the most obvious signs. And often it's only after it shows up in the body that people look for help.

Physical Symptoms of Stress!

Fast paced heart
High blood pressure
Heart problems
Weak immune system
Cold sores
Fatigue
Headaches
Aching muscles
Nausea
Vomiting
Insomnia

If these symptoms are left unchecked, stress related illness will start to creep in. If you want to know the serious effects on your health, click here to go to How Does Stress Affect Health?

Behavioral Symptoms of Stress!

Your symptoms of stress also affect your relationships. People around you are often an easy target to offload on. You might be short tempered or irritable. Ask the people you love. They are the best feedback you can get. You also take it out on yourself with bad habits.

If you can't be honest with yourself ask a friend to sit with you and go through this list of stress symptoms togther.

Overeating or under eating,
Over sleeping or insomnia,
Isolation and withdrawal from people and activities,
Not managing your responsibilities,
Inappropriate laughter, tears and anger,
Increase of alcohol intake, gambling, sex, shopping and drugs,
Nail biting,
Grinding your teeth,
Short temper.

Psychological Effects of Stress: Emotional Symptoms of Stress!

Feeling overwhelmed by small things,
Anxiety and depression,
Lethargy and apathy,
Restlessness,
Anger, resentment and rage,
Irritability and moodiness.

Lastly, yet most importantly are your thoughts and attitudes to the stressful events that are taking place...

Psychological Effects of Stress: The Mental Symptoms of Stress!

Obsessive thoughts,
Loss of objectivity,
Negative thoughts,
Insecurity and self doubt,
Forgetfulness,
Scattered and unfocused thoughts,
Analysis paralysis: inability to make decisions,
Confusion.

Your thoughts and beliefs are often the greatest contributors to your ability or inability to cope. If you tell yourself that you are weak, the symptoms will only get worse. It's like rubbing salt into a wound.

..It only adds pain to the pain.

I intend to show you how to notice the signs right from the start before more serious symptoms show up in your body and behavior.

So take some time and do the Exercises below:

šMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), Stress: Unhealthy response to the pressures of life, Mayo Clinic Staff, September 12, 2006.

Stress Awareness Exercise!

This exercise will help to increase your awareness.

1. List four positive and four negative events that caused change in your life.

2. Take each event one at a time. Close your eyes and remember everything you can about how you responded. Answer the following questions for each event:

2a. What were your feelings?

2b. What were your thoughts?

2c. How did you behave? What habits started or increased?

2d. Did you get sick? How?

3. Now that you have completed the four questions for all eight events, go through your answers and:

3a. Circle any feeling, thought, action or illness that shows up more than three times. Write the words here:

3b. Underline any feeling thought, action or illness that is unusual for you. Write the words here:

4. Complete the following paragraph:

When I am under stress, I often think__(THOUGHTS)__which creates feelings in me of __(FEELINGS)__I tend to act out by __(BEHAVIORS)__and I it shows up in my body __(SYMPTOMS)___

Remember, this site is still being built, so keep your eyes posted for more information. And if you have any questions, go to the home page and click on the Contact Us page.

**Kalavati Vegetarian House!**
Nourishing Tips 1. Drink two liters of water a day. 2. Cut out caffeine and sugar- they increase anxiety levels. 3. Decide what you will replace coffee/coke and sweets with. Knowing you have an alternative like nuts, coconut, seeds, herbals teas, chicory and carob drinks, herbal teas helps to ease your mind. When you crave, drink water first. Then choose one of your alternatives. 3. Hot drinks are soothing and calming. Try warm Soy Milk with honey before you sleep. Add cinnamon! These steps will help you relieve your symptoms of stress! You may think it is not worth the sacrifice, but small things can have a big impact. It's not the complete answer but a great start.

Return from The Symptoms of Stress to The Stress Center
Stress Management
How Does Stress Affect Health?
The Stress Test
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