STRESS SYMPTOMS

Stress can affect your feelings, your thoughts, your behavior and your body functions. It is well known that everybody experiences stress differently. Some women could become angry and act aggressively (become stressed!) if experience any unexpected problems and others could take problems easily (without any stress). Some women internalize life problems and develop eating disorders or substance abuse problems and others just shout out and don’t let problems to create any stress and/or stress related symptoms.

Once you face the stress, symptoms of stress often build up gradually before you start to notice them. Stress affects women in different ways, but if you are stressed, you may have several stress symptoms. As a result of stress, many things could be changed - your feelings, your thoughts, your behavior and/or your body functions.

Unfortunately the combination of stress symptoms experienced over a long period of time could lead to some stress related diseases.

So, what are stress symptoms?

In reality, women who experience stress overload could notice different types of stress symptoms: Cognitive Symptoms, Emotional Symptoms, Physical Symptoms and Behavioral Symptoms.

Cognitive Stress Symptoms

Poor concentration or inability to concentrate;
Memory problems and forgetfulness;
Imagining the worst and seeing only the negative;
Poor judgment;
Anxious or having racing thoughts;
Permanently thinking about things - go over and over things;
Losing temper or short temper;
Loosing interests and/or lack of interest.

Emotional Stress Symptoms

Mood swings (moodiness, sadness, apathy);
Irritability and intolerance of minor disturbing factors;
Impatience and easy anger;
Depression (low in self-esteem, low in mood, unhappiness);
Sense of loneliness and isolation;
Anxiety or panic attacks;
Permanent feeling of being pressured hassled and hurried;
Inability to rest and relax;
Feeling jumpy or exhausted all the time
Mental fatigue;
Worry constantly;
Feeling overwhelmed.

Physical Stress Symptoms

Rapid breathing or breathlessness;
Diarrhea or constipation;
Stomach problems (upset stomach, stomach pain, digestive problems);
Heart beating rapidly or chest pain or racing heart;
Allergic reactions (eczema, psoriasis or asthma);
Increased in blood pressure;
Sleep problems (sleeplessness or too much sleep);
Increased sweating and sweaty palms;
Cold hands and feet;
Muscle tension and pain;
Headaches;
Back, neck and shoulder pain;
Bowel or bladder problems;
Loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems;
Dry mouth;
Grinding teeth
Unexpected skin itching;
Nausea and dizziness;
Oily skin;
Frequent colds;
Jaw clenching.

Behavioral Stress Symptoms

Excessive use of alcohol and/or drugs;
Start smoking or too much smoking;
Sleeping too much or too little;
Changed eating habits (eating too much, refusing food, binge eating);
Food addiction (fatty, sugary snacks);
Reckless risky driving;
Isolating yourself from friends, family member and colleagues;
Avoiding social contact;
Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, blinking, pacing, finger trembling, etc.);
Easily crying and/or overreacting;
Losing your temper easily;
Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities;
Outbursts of anger;
Ignoring daily hygiene, poor hygiene;
Loosing interests (poor performance in the office, ignoring favorite hobbies);
Talking too much or talking very fast;
Becoming unreasonable, clumsy and forgetful.

It is very important to know all possible stress symptoms and to learn how stress affects you because it will help you figure out what coping techniques work best for you. Knowledge about stress symptoms could also enable you to avoid resorting to unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drinking and comfort-eating.