Stress is the body’s reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It usually happens when we are in a situation that we don’t feel we can manage or control.

Whatever the cause, it’s likely you experience some level of stress on a daily basis. But while some day-to-day stress is normal (and can even be a good thing if it motivates you), chronic, overwhelming stress can have a negative impact on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Knowing how to spot the signs and symptoms that you’re under too much stress can help you stay aware and address the issues before they harm your health.

Physical Signs

You might be overly stressed without even knowing it. Maybe you have specific physical symptoms and blame it on an illness or other condition. But the truth is, stress itself can cause problems in your organs, tissues, and just about every system in your body.

Depending on how you handle stress, you might have symptoms that affect everything from your hormones to your heart, and more.

Some of the physical signs that your stress levels are too high include:

Pain or tension in your head, chest, stomach, or muscles. Your muscles tend to tense up when you’re stressed, and over time this can cause headaches, migraines, or musculoskeletal problems.

Digestive problems. These can include diarrhoea and constipation, or nausea and vomiting. Stress can affect how quickly food moves through your system and the way your intestines absorb nutrients.

Reproductive issues. Stress can cause changes to your sex drive, and problems with irregular or painful periods in women.

Mental and Emotional Signs

Stress can also affect how you think and feel, making it tough to get through your normal responsibilities and make rational decisions.

Excessive stress may also affect your appetite, causing you to eat more or less than usual, and it may affect or eliminate your motivation to exercise and stay fit.

Some of the psychological and emotional signs that you’re stressed out include:

• Depression or anxiety
• Anger, irritability, or restlessness
• Feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or unfocused
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Racing thoughts or constant worry
• Trouble making decisions, solving problems, concentrating,

If you’re struggling with stress and don’t know how to cope, you may want to seek help.

Contact me if you need help, you can also use these programs in order to reduce your stress.