Recognising signs of stress
Recognising signs of stress
A lot of things may enter our minds when we hear the word “stress.” We might be thinking about the school works due tomorrow, the heavy traffic on a Friday night, the financial crisis we are going through, or even the unexpected situations we recently experienced.
As you can see, several things might cause us stress. But what is stress?
Stress is a natural coping mechanism of our body in response to a particular situation. We can feel stress for a short period. This type of stress keeps us alert towards our environment however, experiencing stress for an extended time can affect every aspect of our lives- physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Since prolonged stress is something we must not take for granted, it is essential that we learn how to recognise stress because we all respond to it differently.
Ways to recognise stress
Here’s a list of signs that might be linked with stress. Ask yourself if you feel these signs and if it has something to do with stress.
- Physical pains
Headaches, migraines, chest pains, digestive problems such as diarrhea and constipation, or muscle pains may be linked with stress. Many studies associate stress with headaches as well as pain in the neck region.
2. Constant tiredness
Have you ever felt tired even after taking a nap or losing interest in the things you enjoy? Your body might be reminding you that it needs more rest because of too much stress.
3. Changes in sleep patterns
There will also be times wherein you may find it hard to sleep. Your brain might be having a hard time trying to slow down, thus affecting sleep patterns. For some, oversleeping can also be a sign of stress.
4. Concentration problems and difficulty in making decisions
Since the brain is continually thinking of the things causing a person’s stress, people might also have concentration problems. Moreover, people can become forgetful or might find it challenging to make decisions. It is hard for them to focus on the tasks at hand because their brain is working on something else.
5. Skin breakouts
Stress affects your hormones; thus, you can also experience skin breakouts. What’s the best thing to do? Find the stressor, resolve it, and the acne might be gone. Of course, acne is caused by several other factors, and stress can be one of them.
6. Uneasiness
Constantly biting your nails, picking your skin, grinding your teeth, or clenching your jaw or fist can be habits you picked up due to stress build-up. It might be your body’s way of dealing with stress.
7. Changes in eating behavior
Stressed people also tend to eat out a lot to cope with stress while others lose their appetite. Extreme changes in appetite may affect weight and may impose other physical problems.
Indulging can make people feel good and become their coping mechanism. Coping mechanisms may ease stress for a while, but it will not deal with the cause of the stress.
8. Mood swings and irritability
You might also notice that even minor things seem to get on your nerves or you tend to snap at people easily when you are stress. If your irritability becomes constant and frequent, maybe it is time to pause and reflect if this is due to stress.
Stress Management
As you can see, there are obvious and less obvious signs of stress. It is vital that we take some time to pause and recognise each sign so that we can resolve it. Remember, a little stress is normal, but consistent stress may affect your life and even the people around you.
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