Stress Symptoms

Stress is a common reaction to demands, frustrations, deadlines, and hassles. In fact, in today’s scenario, stress is commonplace, with more and more people suffering from stress-related diseases. While stress in small doses is good for the body as it spurs you on to do better, high stress levels can actually have an adverse affect on your system.

What is Stress? Stress is the body’s response to threat. When it perceives something as a threat, the nervous system releases stress hormones that includes cortisol and adrenaline. This sets the body in an emergency motion. Your heat beat increases, the muscles tighten, your senses become sharper, your breath quickens and your blood pressure rises. This speeds up your reaction time and your body is in the fight or flee mode.

Stress can upset your balance because the body perceives threat and reacts to it in several ways. This reaction is actually the way your body protects you. It also helps you stay alert, energetic and focused. But after a point, stress can be detrimental and can damage your health, relationships, productivity and the quality of life.

How does stress affect you? If you are exposed to stress for a longer period of time, it can cause health problems. Chronic stress can harm the systems in your body – it can make you age faster, can expose you to heart disease, suppresses the immune system, and can raise the blood pressure. You will also be more prone to getting anxiety attacks and depression.

Some of the problems that can be caused by stress:
• Sleep problems
• Digestive disorders
• Heart disease
• Physical pain
• Skin disorders
• Autoimmune diseases
• Obesity
• Depression

Signs and symptoms that you should look out for:

Emotional Symptoms:
• Constant worrying
• Anxious thoughts and anxiety
• A negative point of view
• Poor judgment
• Inability to focus and concentrate
• Memory problems
• Depression or a feeling general unhappiness
• A feeling of isolation
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Inability to relax
• Short temper and irritability
• Moodiness

Physical Symptoms:
• Frequent colds
• Low sex drive
• Rapid heartbeat and chest pain
• Dizziness and nausea
• Constipation and diarrhea
• Pains and aches

Habitual Symptoms:
• Nervous habits like pacing up and down, biting nails or feeling flustered
• Using drugs, cigarettes or alcohol
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Isolating yourself
• Sleeping less
• Eating disorders

Simple remedies to Cope with Stress:

• Revamp your diet by including a lot of nutrients and nourishing food like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and ditch the sugar and junk food.

• Refrain from alcohol and smoking, and also from drinking too much of caffeinated drinks that can increase your stress levels.

• Take vitamin C supplements as this can improve the immune system and prevent you from getting infections and cold.

• You might want to resort to aromatherapy and essential oils to sooth yourself.

• Try getting a massage as this can relax your body and mind.

• Work in some exercise as the endorphins released will calm your mind.