According to the The American Institute of Stress: “Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences. Everyone expresses stress from time to time. Anything from everyday responsibilities like work and family to serious life events such as a new diagnosis, war, or the death of a loved one can trigger stress. For immediate, short-term situations, stress can be beneficial to your health. It can help you cope with potentially serious situations. Your body responds to stress by releasing hormones that increase your heart and breathing rates and ready your muscles to respond.”
There are 50 common signs of stress to look for, some of which are listed below:
1) Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain
2) Gritting, grinding teeth
3) Tremors, trembling of lips, hands
4) Neck ache, back pain, muscle spasms
5) Light headedness, faintness, dizziness
6) Frequent blushing, sweating
7) Frequent colds, infections, herpes sores
8) Rashes, itching, hives, “goose bumps”
9) Heartburn, stomach pain, nausea
10) Constipation, diarrhea, loss of control
11) Difficulty breathing, frequent sighing
12) Sudden attacks of life threatening panic
13) Chest pain, palpitations, rapid pulse
14) Diminished sexual desire or performance
15) Excess anxiety, worry, guilt, nervousness
16) Increased anger, frustration, hostility
17) Depression, frequent or wild mood swings
18) Insomnia, nightmares, disturbing dreams
19) Difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts
20) Trouble learning new information
21) Difficulty in making decisions
22) Feeling overloaded or overwhelmed
23) Frequent crying spells or suicidal thoughts
24) Feelings of loneliness or worthlessness
25) Little interest in appearance, punctuality
26) Nervous habits, fidgeting, feet tapping
27) Increased frustration, irritability, edginess
28) Increased number of minor accidents
29) Reduced work efficiency or productivity
30) Lies or excuses to cover up poor work
31) Excessive defensiveness or suspiciousness
32) Social withdrawal and isolation
33) Constant tiredness, weakness, fatigue
34) Weight gain or loss without diet
35) Increased smoking, alcohol or drug use including over-the-counter drugs
36) Excessive gambling or impulse buying
If you are struggling with stress or any other emotions that feel overwhelming and/or minimize your productivity in any area of your life, please reach out today. 1Alliance CPS therapists are available to help you identify the needed tools to help you heal and grow.
In Crisis? Seeking Services?
If experiencing a life-threatening emergency or medical/mental health crisis, dial 9-1-1.
For crisis services and/or connection to Mental Health and Substance Abuse services, you may contact the Georgia Crisis & Access Line at 1-800-715-4225 or check out the website: mygcal.com. You can also check out NAMI Helpline at 800-950-NAMI; Or in a crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741.
If you or a loved one you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). This line is available 24/7 and is free and confidential. For Spanish speakers: Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio @ 1-888-628-9454. For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255 or use chat features online. The website for more information is: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Resources:
https://www.stress.org/stress-effects
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/