HEALTH: What is Stress?
September 6, 2008 – 1:20 pm
Stress is our physical or psychological responses to the events that are experienced. The events that cause stress are called stressors and the natural reaction of the body to stress is known as the stress response. Actually, you can face many sources of stress everyday such as traffic jams, relationship problems, children and the like.
In fact every one of us experience stress a little differently and on different levels. Enough stress can be good for you but much stress can harm. Your outlook to the stressors affects your stress level. Generally stress can be linked to external factors such as family problems, work environment, financial problems and the like. Nevertheless stress can result from your own such as perfectionism, poor health and the like. Whatever the cause, stress affects your both body and mind in number of ways. If you do not know what stress is and how to reduce it, stress becomes a big problem in your life. If you do not control your stress, you should consult your doctor. Because if stress is not controlled, it can make you sick.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Stress
There are both physical and mental signs and symptoms of stress. However do not forget that signs and symptoms of stress may vary on from people to people. If you know the signs and symptoms of stress, you can take some precautions.
How do you know if you are stressed? Below is the list of some possible signs and symptoms of stress. If you experience some of the following symptoms, you can deal with stress. Shortly, these signs will let you if you are stressed or not now.
Physical Signs & Symptoms:
• Weight gain or loss
• Frequent urination
• Dry mouth
• Headaches and backaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Excessive fatigue
• Stomach problems
• Loss of sex drive
• Frequent colds
• Skin breakouts (Eczema, hives)
• Racing heart, heartburn
• Sweating
• Ulcers and high blood pressure
• Panic or anxiety attacks
• Hair loss
• Joint and muscle pain
• Poor posture
Behavioural Signs & Symptoms:
• Eating more or less
• Insomnia or oversleeping
• Withdrawing yourself from the relationships
• Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
• Overdoing activities (Exercising, speaking, shopping)
• Picking fights with others
• Using alcohol, cigarette or drugs to relax
• Nervous habits (Nail biting, pacing and the like)
• Lack of physical coordination
• Changing jobs often
• A decrease in work performance
• Avoiding responsibilities.
Cognitive Signs & Symptoms:
• Memory problems
• Inability to concentrate
• Poor judgement
• Loss of objectivity
• Being forgetful
• Difficulty with decisions
Emotional Signs & Symptoms:
• Short temper
• Seeing only the negative sides of the events (Pessimistic outlook)
• Constant worrying
• Loss of confidence
• Anxiousness and nervousness
• Excessive worry
• Loss of hope
• Frequent mood swings
• Sadness and depression
• Job dissatisfaction