You’ve heard that excess stress can cause health problems, but are you heeding the warnings? It’s so easy to get caught up in the raging river of life that many of us don’t even realize we barely have time to sit down and do nothing for a few minutes.
Part of the problem is our inability to recognize when we’re overstressed, so if you’re ready to take a good hard look at yourself and your habits, look out for these — the top 15 signs that you’re majorly overstressed:
1. Lack of Ability to Concentrate
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Lack of Ability to Concentrate- http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/
Naturally, when there’s something in your life that’s worrying or troubling you and you’re stressed about it, you’re preoccupied. You may feel anger, sadness, frustration, or guilt, and these feelings keep you from focusing and concentrating on anything else.
This means that work, school, your loved ones and friends, your self-care, and other important things go by the wayside. Noticing this is often a sure-fire sign that excess stress is at play.
2. Trouble Making Decisions
Trouble Making Decisions – https://cdn.theatlantic.com
Some people naturally have trouble making even the most basic decisions, but if you’ve noticed that you can barely decide between what kind of paper towels to get at the supermarket or what to have for lunch, it could be a sign that you are overall stressed in your life. That’s because stress can cause you to doubt yourself and lose confidence in the choices you make. This can trickle down to even the most rudimentary decisions, which is usually when it becomes apparent to you and others.
3. Hypochondria
Hypochondria – http://i.huffpost.com
Hypochondria is excessive anxiety about your health and the belief that you have a chronic disease that simply hasn’t been brought to light yet. Sometimes when people get stressed, they begin to reflect on their fast-paced, often unhealthy lives, and a wave of concentrated worry arrives in which they “realize” that one small symptom (a canker sore, an odd mole, the flu) could be related to a deadly disease. Searching frantically for illness symptoms online and overall paranoia about your health are textbook signs of this stress-induced condition.
4. A Temper
A Temper – https://i.ytimg.com
If people around you have been remarking how short of a temper you have lately, this is another sign that stress has taken over. Sure, a short fuse can happen anytime, but when you are consistently at your wit’s end, this doesn’t bode well for the future, and eventually, your friends and family won’t take it anymore. A constant quick temper is a sign that you need to make a change.
5. Hair Loss
Hair Loss – http://a.abcnews.com
Hair loss is a common sign of stress. It’s natural to lose some hair every day, but if you notice large tufts of hair in your hairbrush when you groom yourself or a lot of hair in the drain after you take a shower, this isn’t a positive sign. The good news is that calming your stress and improving your situation can immediately help stop you from losing more hair.
6. Constant Fidgeting
Constant Fidgeting – https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/
Sometimes, stress seeks more stress. In other words, if you’re used to being stressed out, you may continue to try to find reasons for additional stress — even when your stressors have ceased. Nowhere is this more noticeable than in the act of fidgeting. The inability to sit still is a sign from your body that it’s anticipating more stress at any moment.
7. Headaches and Migraines
Headaches and Migraines – http://ritchiechirohealth.com/
Headaches and migraines are extremely common when individuals are extra stressed. Particularly with random headaches, the pain could be caused by holding your body in a “stressed” position. For example, those with bruxism (teeth grinding) may experience pain in their jaw because they clench it so tightly throughout the day. This, in turn, may translate pain into pain in the head or neck.
8. Acne Out of Nowhere
Acne Out of Nowhere – https://s.yimg.com/
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Stress can exacerbate inflammation in the body, and inflammation is a leading cause of breakouts and acne. If you’ve been noticing an inordinate amount of breakouts on your skin, it could be due to stress. Naturally, not all acne is caused by stress, but when you only normally have a moderate acne issue and lately you’ve been experiencing many more breakouts, it’s often stress-related.
9. Not Showering and Not Taking Time With Your Appearance
Not Showering and Taking Time With Your Appearance -https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com
The first thing to go when many people get overly stressed is their appearance. Is not uncommon for those who are experiencing exceedingly high levels of pressure at work or at home to stop taking care of their appearance. They may allow their hair to grow dirty and unkempt. Women may stop applying makeup, and men may stop taking care of their own cleanliness or clean clothes. Any sign of this should alert you to unmanageable stress in your life.
10. Stomach Aches and Bowel Issues
Stomach Aches and Bowel Issues – https://www.usnews.com
There’s a reason why ulcers in the stomach can be caused by extreme stress. But before the stress actually becomes a full-blown ulcer, you’ll likely experience daily stomach aches. Moreover, some individuals will have bowel issues, including constipation and/or diarrhea. Some individuals will even develop actual illnesses such as IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. Crohn’s disease has been likewise linked to excess stress.
11. Susceptibility to Illness
Susceptibility to Illness – http://i.telegraph.co.uk
Medical professionals do not fully understand the link between your physical body and your mental state, however, it has been proven time and again that those who are exhibiting psychological stressors often exhibit negative physical effects as well. Those who are overly stressed, for example, may have a higher susceptibility to the common cold or the flu. If you’ve been getting sick a lot, it could be a sign.
12. A Swing Toward Addictions
A Swing Toward Addictions – https://lifeprocessprogram.com
If you have a propensity to drink, take drugs, overeat, watch too much TV, spend too much money, play hours and hours of video games, or do any other form of addictive, destructive behavior, watch out for these tendencies. Often, we have one or two addictive tendencies that we turn to when we get stressed, and these can be extremely destructive in our lives. So as soon as you notice a gravitation toward these weak spots, it should be a red flag.
13. Not Socializing
Not Socializing – http://www.drsyrasderksen.com
Often, because your mind is preoccupied with the things in life you’re stressed about, you feel that you don’t have time to socialize with others. This can be an exponentially growing problem as well.
For example, after a week of not socializing with friends or family members, you may continue to feel that you’re being bothered to hang out with a friend or go to a party, and the effects of not socializing will continue to worsen. Humans require socialization for numerous reasons, and one of them is to help reduce normal, everyday stress.
14. Sleep Problems
Sleep Problems – https://www.endocrineweb.com/
Sleep issues are common with excess stress, but everyone experiences them differently. You may feel like sleeping all the time, or you may not be able to fall asleep at all. Another common trope is that you can’t sleep when you’re supposed to sleep (at night), but you’re tired throughout the day and often take naps.
15. Chronic Pain
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Chronic Pain – https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/
Finally, bodily pain can cause chronic pain that is similar to the symptoms of nerve damage or fibromyalgia — general pain allover. Likewise, backaches, joint pain, and other discomforts may have a root in your stress. This is a symptom that you simply cannot ignore, and it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible for a solution and to avoid any further damage.
If you’ve noticed any of these dangerous signs you’re overstressed, remember that this means it’s time to do something about it. Don’t continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. Instead, make a move to improve your circumstances. There are numerous ways to limit your stress and find more peace every day. Doing this will improve your health and overall wellbeing in ways you can’t imagine.
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