What are the symptoms of stress?

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Everyone experiences similar symptoms for stress. However the more symptoms you have, the higher your stress levels become. There are many different types of symptoms.

Physical Symptoms

  • Increase heart rate
  • Chest pains
  • Nausea, dizziness
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Frequent colds
  • Headache
  • Indigestion, heartburn
  • Weight loss or gain

Behavioral Symptoms

  • Increased or decreased eating
  • Altered sleeping patterns
  • Increased consumption of alcohol, drugs and cigarettes
  • Procrastination
  • Isolation
  • Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, teeth grinding, pacing)

Cognitive Symptoms

  • Inability to concentration
  • Feeling anxious
  • Feeling very pessimistic

Emotional Symptoms

  • Feeling agitated and irritable
  • Low self esteem and confidence
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Feeling lonely and depressed

Studies have also shown that long-term exposure to stress may lead to serious health consequences and endocrine disorders. Some of these include poor glycemic control, abnormal thyroid functions, obesity, heart disease, digestion problems and gonadal dysfunction. There are also mental consequences, such as anxiety, depression, sleeping problems and lack of memory and concentration.

Dealing with Stress

Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising and having good sleeping habits, are key to lowering stress from high levels. However it is important to identify your stress triggers and the symptoms that accompany these, as this will help you manage and deal with stress. Trying simple relaxation techniques and breathing exercises may help you deal with stress immediately.

There are also different types of therapy available for long-term treatment. These include cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling hypnotherapy and neuro-linguistic processing. To find out more about dealing with stress, simply book an appointment with your GP about your concerns.

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Sources:

HelpGuide.org. Stress symptoms, signs and causes. Retrieved from: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects.htm#what

 

About Post Author

Hazel Mak

Hazel is second year biochemist at Imperial College London. She is very interested in the human physiology as well as food science and complementary medicine. Aside from her studies, she has a small personal blog where she also posts about food, recipes, fashion and a bit of beauty. Her blog: https://hazelnutm.wordpress.com/ ________________________