Stress the warning signs

The word stress is one of those over used words, when we actually think about it many of us are not really sure what it means and what it means to us. So how do we recognise stress in ourselves? Stress affects the mind, body and our behaviours in lots of different ways and symptoms may vary from one person to the next. For some people stress may show itself in terms of lower back pain, stomach problems such as IBS or skin outbreaks. For other people stress may show itself with emotional issues such as tearfulness or as feeling anxious.

Below are some of the common warning signs of stress:


Cognitive signs:
Memory problems
Indecisiveness
Struggling to concentrate
Struggling to think clearly
Poor judgment
Negative thoughts
Anxious or racing thoughts
Constant worrying
Loss of objectivity
Fearful anticipation

Emotional Symptoms:
Moodiness
Agitation
Restlessness
Short Temper
Irritable / Impatient
Struggling to Relax
Feeling Tense
Feeling Overwhelmed
Loneliness and Isolation
General Unhappiness

Physical Symptoms:
Headaches or backaches
Tension in the muscles
Digestion problems
Nausea, dizziness
Chest pain, increase in breathing
Weight gain or loss
Skin out breaks
Loss of sex drive
Frequent colds

Behavioural Symptoms:
Eating more or less
Sleeping too little or too much
Isolating yourself
Procrastination, neglecting responsibilities
Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs
Nervous habits
Grinding or clenching teeth
Overdoing of activities (e.g. exercising)

It is important to remember that although these are common signs and symptoms of stress they can also be caused by other physical problems so it is important to talk it through with a medical expert such as your GP to get a full evaluation.

http://www.wellbeing-clinic.co.uk/?pageid=pageid1438.xml

http://www.counsellingnottingham.co.uk/