Stress is the body’s normal response to change. It can be physical, emotional or mental. Whether it’s an upcoming deadline or throwing a birthday party; Stress is part of daily life. However, everyone reacts differently to stress. For some it may be obvious to feel stressed, but others may not realize it until it becomes more severe.
An observational study from 2015 looked at the extent to which adults perceive stress and found that 59% of them experienced high levels of stress. However, excessive stress or too much stress can be detrimental to your physical and mental health, as it can cause the body to become disorganized.
How do you know if you’re experiencing a normal level of stress or if you’re really stressed out? Although stress affects everyone differently; There are some common signs that you may be overly stressed.
BAD SLEEP PATTERN
Most of us have had a sleepless night and woke up feeling tired and dizzy. When someone is overly stressed, their mind becomes overwhelmed and this affects their ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. If you are constantly feeling tired and have almost no energy to get through the day, you may be overly stressed.
A 2014 study of more than 2,300 adult participants showed a significant association between exposure to stress and an increased risk of insomnia.
FEELING DEPRESSED
It is understandable that important life events, such as the death of a loved one and loss of a job, can cause feelings of sadness and depression. But stress from everyday life issues such as financial difficulties, troubled relationships, health problems, and parenting responsibilities can also cause depression.
A study of 816 women showed that both chronic and acute stress significantly increased the risk of major depressive episodes. It is important to note that depression is associated with other factors such as family history, environment, brain chemistry, certain medical conditions, and malnutrition.
FEELING ANXIETY OR Frustrated – OR BOTH!
When you experience high levels of stress over a long period of time, you may feel overwhelmed. You may have so many things to do and feel like you can’t do it all. This can create feelings of nervousness. Whether you’re preparing for a job interview or going on a first date, it’s normal to feel anxious from time to time; however, if you are constantly feeling anxious, it may mean that you are overly stressed.
A 2015 study looking at medically healthy working adults ages 30 to 60 showed that work and home stress were associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in both men and women.
FREQUENTLY HEADACHE
Whether from a bad night’s sleep or a hangover; You’ve probably had a headache before. However, one of the common symptoms of extreme stress is getting frequent tension headaches.
A study published in 2014 found that increased stress was associated with an increased number of days a participant experienced a headache each month, especially for those with tension headaches and the younger population.
DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
Chronic stress can cause digestive issues such as heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea and aggravate symptoms in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and other functional gastrointestinal diseases.
FAST HEART RATE AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
You may feel your heart beat faster when you take a brisk walk or move some heavy furniture. However, if your heart beats fast while standing still or sitting, it may mean that you are under extreme stress.
When you experience stress, both your heart rate and blood pressure rise. However, if the stressor is short-lived (i.e., situational stress), your heart rate and blood pressure will return to normal levels. If you are under stress for a long time, your body will be in overdrive for a long time as a result.
INCREASING ACNE
Picture this: The night before a big presentation and while brushing your teeth, you notice a huge pimple popping up just above your forehead. The severity of stress has been shown to be significantly associated with an increase in acne severity. One of the mechanisms is that during the stress response, the body releases cortisol, which increases the skin’s oil production and worsens acne. Keep in mind that there are other factors that can contribute to acne besides stress, such as inflammation, clogged pores, bacteria, and hormonal changes.
GET SICK FREQUENTLY
The effectiveness of your immune system depends on the level of stress your body is experiencing. When your body is under constant stress, your immune system becomes vulnerable and its ability to fight infections and viruses decreases. So if you always seem to be suffering from a cold or major health problems, you may be under extreme stress.
PAIN AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Chronic pain and chronic stress go hand in hand. If a person is in pain, feels stressed and is constantly under stress, this can cause aches and pains. How does your body feel when you wake up in the morning? If you are constantly experiencing pain in your joints and back, you may be under extreme stress.
One of the reasons long-term stress can cause pain has to do with cortisol, which is released during the body’s stress response. In normal situations, cortisol is an anti-inflammatory hormone; however, chronic stress and repeated cortisol fluctuations cause cortisol dysfunction. Cortisol dysfunction causes inflammation, which leads to widespread tissue and nerve damage.
LOW LIBIDO
Stress can cause changes in libido. If you find that you are less interested in sex than you used to be, you may be experiencing extreme stress. A 2021 study examined the relationship between the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on women’s reproductive health. He surveyed more than 1,000 women and found that 45% said they experienced reduced sex drive due to stress. It is important to consider other factors that affect a person’s libido, including hormonal changes, psychological factors, smoking, alcohol consumption, and other social factors.
