Signs of Stress

Technically speaking, stress is one of the physical responses of the body. It is one of the ways the body helps you counter certain events that may make you feel threatened or upset. Your sense of danger makes the body help you rise to the challenge and protect you from any harm whatsoever. Stress enables you to counter a situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness, when of course, it is in a normal mode. In times, when you come across emergency or life-threatening events, stress may actually work to save your life. For example, if you are being chased by a mad dog, you may climb a tall tree, which in normal circumstances you would have never thought of climbing. During all such situations, the body shifts into a mode known as the 'fight-or-flight' reaction, or the stress response.

This was about stress, which remains helpful, pertaining to the kind of situations faced by you. In other words, proper functioning of stress in the body, enhances your ability to perform well under pressure. On the other hand, when stress takes on a chronic form, it gradually starts becoming a threat to the well-being of a person. This form of stress is generally related to psychological aspects of life and brings about a number of problems, when it overreacts or fails to turn off and reset itself properly.

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

Stress can manifest itself in various forms pertaining to the cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral nature of the body.

Physical signs of stress which commonly occur include aches, pains, headaches, chest pain, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations and frequent colds. Stress may also give rise to a bout of stomach problems like diarrhea, constipation, acidity, bloating, etc. Apart from this, allergic reactions, such as eczema or asthma may crop up and the sexual life of the person may be affected big time due to severe stress.

Coming to the emotional manifestations of stress, it is common to observe the stressed person being abnormally moody, irritable, short tempered, agitated and unrelaxed. The person may also develop a sense of loneliness and may feel being isolated, even though he is actually not. Feeling overwhelmed and being depressed most of the time, are clearly among the signs and symptoms of stress.

As said, long-running stress also affects the cognitive part of a person's life. The person may become forgetful or suffer from memory problems, develop poor sense of judgment and may find it difficult to concentrate in his daily work. Getting leaned towards a pessimistic attitude of life, being anxious at all times and having a constant worrying mind are symptoms which are indicative of chronic stress.

Insomnia, eating disorder, neglecting or not taking up responsibilities, getting addicted to alcohol, drugs and the like, as a means of getting relaxed, and developing habits like nail biting, leg shaking, pacing, etc., are also some important signs of stress, related to the person's behavioral attitude.

Children, when stressed, may get irritated easily, develop finicky eating, become fussier, develop poor appetite, or want to be left alone most of the time.

It is important for people to understand that stress is not an illness, but a symptom of many underlying conditions in the body. If the causes are medical ones then, a visit to a doctor would be helpful. In case of psychological factors, dealing with the problem head on helps keep things from getting worse. Indulging in yoga, meditation, and biofeedback also helps reduce stress.