Recognizing The Symptoms Of Stress

Stress is an emotional response to a situation or circumstance which happens in our lives. Usually it is a situation that happens on a continuous basis. It upsets our physical balance and can even threaten our physical safety. Our body responds by putting up defenses, our heart rate increases, and our blood pressure rises. This triggers changes within our body that put us on high alert. Our pupils will dilate, blood sugar rises, and we get a sudden increase in energy. All of these are symptoms of stress that can cause lasting harm if we do nothing to control them.

There are many more symptoms of stress that we need to recognize so that we can identify them and correct them. Having the ability to recognize the symptoms of stress can mean the difference between a good day and a bad day. It can also mean the difference between good health and poor health.

Warning Signs And Symptoms Of Stress

Remaining under severs stress may cause you to experience memory problems. You may not be able to concentrate or make decisions. You may experience poor judgment and worry constantly about things you feel are wrong. You may see everything as being negative and fail to find the positive in any situation. Your thoughts may race and make you anxious all of the time.

Emotional symptoms of stress may make you moody and irritable. You may feel agitated and restless. You may feel like you are overwhelmed and cannot accomplish your daily tasks. Depression, loneliness, and unhappiness are often prevalent. If left untreated, depression can lead to a much more serious health condition.

Physically you may experience headaches, chest pain, muscle tension, nausea, and sleeplessness. Your immune system may be lowered and you may be more susceptible to colds and other ailments. You may experience either weight gain or weight loss. Some people eat more when they are stressed and others cannot eat anything. Some people break out in a rash which turns bright red and itches.

Many people will experience behavioral problems such as smoking more, drinking more alcohol, or taking drugs to help them relax. This is dangerous behavior because there is the possibility of dependency. You may neglect your responsibilities such as doing laundry or cleaning house. Some people tend to stay in bed and isolate themselves from others. When in the presence of others they may tend to start arguments or overreact to a given situation.

All of these symptoms of stress can make you miserable. Being able to recognize the symptoms will hopefully help you avoid them. Catching them early will help you prevent them from getting a strong hold on your life.