Do you find yourself scratching your head often, eating without a break, or feeling extremely worried about not-so-important things? If that’s the case, then, you’re probably subjecting yourself to more stress than you can handle.
Stress is part of being human, and it can help motivate you to get things done. Even high stress from serious illness, job loss, a death in the family, or a painful life event can be a natural part of life. You may feel down or anxious, and that’s normal too for a while.
Stress is subjective and often not measurable with tests - only the person experiencing it can determine whether it's present and how severe it feels. However, long-term stress can cause physical symptoms, emotional symptoms and unhealthy behaviours. Regularly using stress management techniques can help you avoid most physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms of stress.
Physical symptoms of stress:
- Aches and pains
- High blood pressure
- Weak immune system
- Trouble with sex life
- Chest pain or heart racing
- Stomach or digestive problems
- Muscle tension or jaw clenching
- Exhaustion or trouble sleeping
- Headaches, dizziness or shaking
Stress can lead to emotional and mental symptoms like:
- Anxiety or irritability
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Sadness