Stress Symptoms: Physical Effects of Stress on the Body

But recognizing stress symptoms may be harder than you think. Most of us are so used to being stressed, we often don't know we are stressed ... MenuNewsReferenceQuizzesSlideshowsVideosQuestions&AnswersFindaPsychologistABalancedLifeTakeItEasyCAMTreatmentsWhatIsStress?StressSymptomsStressLevelsHowStressAffectsYouStressandYourBodyStressManagementQuit-SmokingAssessmentAnxiety&PanicBalanceCaregiverStressDepressionHeadachesandStressJobStressSmokingCessationStress&HeartDiseaseHealth&BalanceStressManagementMenuMedicallyReviewedbySmithaBhandari, MDonAugust19,2021ArticlesOnStressManagementWhatIsStress?StressSymptomsStressLevelsHowStressAffectsYouStressandYourBodyStressManagementStressaffectsusall.Youmaynoticesymptomsofstresswhendiscipliningyourkids,duringbusytimesatwork,whenmanagingyourfinances,orwhencopingwithachallengingrelationship.Stressiseverywhere.AndwhilealittlestressisOK--somestressisactuallybeneficial--toomuchstresscanwearyoudownandmakeyousick,bothmentallyandphysically.Thefirststeptocontrollingstressistoknowthesymptomsofstress.Butrecognizingstresssymptomsmaybeharderthanyouthink.Mostofusaresousedtobeingstressed,weoftendon'tknowwearestresseduntilweareatthebreakingpoint.WhatIsStress?Stressisthebody'sreactiontoharmfulsituations--whetherthey’rerealorperceived.Whenyoufeelthreatened,achemicalreactionoccursinyourbodythatallowsyoutoactinawaytopreventinjury.Thisreactionisknownas"fight-or-flight,”orthestressresponse.Duringstressresponse,yourheartrateincreases,breathingquickens,musclestighten,andbloodpressurerises.You’vegottenreadytoact.Itishowyouprotectyourself.Stressmeansdifferentthingstodifferentpeople.Whatcausesstressinonepersonmaybeoflittleconcerntoanother.Somepeoplearebetterabletohandlestressthanothers.And,notallstressisbad.Insmalldoses,stresscanhelpyouaccomplishtasksandpreventyoufromgettinghurt.Forexample,stressiswhatgetsyoutoslamonthebreakstoavoidhittingthecarinfrontofyou.That'sagoodthing.Ourbodiesaredesignedtohandlesmalldosesofstress.But,wearenotequippedtohandlelong-term,chronicstresswithoutillconsequences.WhatAretheSymptomsofStress?Stresscanaffectallaspectsofyourlife,includingyouremotions,behaviors,thinkingability,andphysicalhealth.Nopartofthebodyisimmune.But,becausepeoplehandlestressdifferently,symptomsofstresscanvary.Symptomscanbevagueandmaybethesameasthosecausedbymedicalconditions.Soitisimportanttodiscussthemwithyourdoctor.Youmayexperienceanyofthefollowingsymptomsofstress.Emotionalsymptomsofstressinclude:Becomingeasilyagitated,frustrated,andmoodyFeelingoverwhelmed,likeyouarelosingcontrolorneedtotakecontrolHavingdifficultyrelaxingandquietingyourmindFeelingbadaboutyourself(lowself-esteem),lonely,worthless,anddepressedAvoidingothersPhysicalsymptomsofstressinclude:LowenergyHeadachesUpsetstomach,includingdiarrhea,constipation,andnauseaAches,pains,andtensemusclesChestpainandrapidheartbeatInsomniaFrequentcoldsandinfectionsLossofsexualdesireand/orabilityNervousnessandshaking,ringingintheear,coldorsweatyhandsandfeetDrymouthanddifficultyswallowingClenchedjawandgrindingteethCognitivesymptomsofstressinclude:ConstantworryingRacingthoughtsForgetfulnessanddisorganizationInabilitytofocusPoorjudgmentBeingpessimisticorseeingonlythenegativesideBehavioralsymptomsofstressinclude:Changesinappetite--eithernoteatingoreatingtoomuchProcrastinatingandavoidingresponsibilitiesIncreaseduseofalcohol,drugs,orcigarettesExhibitingmorenervousbehaviors,suchasnailbiting,fidgeting,andpacing WhatAretheConsequencesofLong-TermStress?Alittlestresseverynowandthenisnotsomethingtobeconcernedabout.Ongoing,chronicstress,however,cancauseorexacerbatemanyserioushealthproblems,including:Mentalhealthproblems,suchasdepression,anxiety,andpersonalitydisordersCardiovasculardisease,includingheartdisease,highbloodpressure,abnormalheartrhythms,heartattacks,andstrokeObesityandothereatingdisordersMenstrualproblemsSexualdysfunction,suchasimpotenceandprematureejaculationinmenandlossofsexualdesireinbothmenandwomenSkinandhairproblems,suchasacne,psoriasis,andeczema,andpermanenthairlossGastrointestinalproblems,suchasGERD,gastritis,ulcerativecolitis,andirritablecolonHelpIsAvailableforStressStressisapartoflife.Whatmattersmostishowyouhandleit.Thebestthingyoucandotopreventstressoverloadandthehealthconsequencesthatcomewithitistoknowyourstresssymptoms.Ifyouoralovedoneisfeelingoverwhelmedbystress,talktoyourdoctor.Manysymptomsofstresscanalsobesignsofotherhealthproblems.Yourdoctorcanevaluateyoursymptomsandruleoutotherconditions.Ifstressistoblame,yourdoctorcanrecommendatherapistorcounselortohelpyoubetterhandleyourstress.NextInStressManagementStressLevelsBreathingTechniquesforStressReliefIsYourSmartphoneWreckingYourHealth?MSandDepression:HowAreTheyLinked?HowStressAffectsYourBodyIsYourStressLevelTooHigh?KeepaStress-BustingChecklistFoodsThatHelpTameStressKeepcalmbyaddingthesetoyourdiet.StressandYourBodyBeyondapoundingheartandaknottedstomach.WaystoAvoidStressFromtimemanagementtolifestylechanges.StressandYourWeightHoweatinghigh-fatfoodscanslowyourmetabolism.QuizAreYouStressed?GettheFactsArticleCutDebttoCutStressArticleThinkAwayUnwantedStressArticleHowStressAffectsYourBodyArticleHowtoMeasureYourStressSlideshowIsYourSmartphoneWrec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