Top 10 Signs That You’re Under Too Much Stress
What is Stress?
Stress is your body’s natural response to feeling threatened. In a perceived-emergency situation, your body releases stress hormones to help you handle the situation. In small doses, stress can be good and can help save your life (ex: flight-or-flight response). But excess stress or long-term (chronic) stress can really take a toll on your body.
Top 10 Warning Signs of Stress
Because chronic or extreme stress can have negative effects on your mental, emotional, and physical health, it’s important to learn how to recognize the warning signs. The warning signs are your body’s way of telling you that something needs to change. By identifying these, you’re taking the first step in stress management. You can then work on treating the warning signs and eliminating the causes.
To help you get started, here are the top 10 warning signs that you’re under too much stress:
1. You’re exhausted all the time.
One of the most common indicators of stress is fatigue—or extreme tiredness. If you’re constantly feeling exhausted, even after a full night’s sleep, it can affect your ability to concentrate, your mood, your productivity, and more.
2. You’re having trouble sleeping at night.
If stress and anxiety are bothering you, you may have trouble winding down at night. People under a lot of stress often have insomnia, which can make falling asleep or staying asleep extremely difficult. Insomnia can also be closely related to exhaustion and fatigue, leaving you feeling tired and unable to concentrate during the day.
3. You’re experiencing chronic headaches.
Stress headaches—or tension headaches—are the most common type of headaches among adults. These may occur daily or less frequently and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few days. If you are experiencing headaches along with a tightness around your forehand or the back of your neck, these are likely stress-related headaches.
4. You have chronic back or neck pain.
While stress is often thought of as an emotional or mental burden, it can feel like a physical burden as well. The idiom, “carry the weight on your shoulders” can accurately describe what it feels like to be stressed. Because we often physically carry stress in our shoulders, neck, and back, it can lead to chronic pain.
5. Your emotions are getting the best of you.
Stress can make you feel like you’re not in control of your emotions. If you are experiencing frequent mood swings or personality changes, it can be a good indicator of stress. Stress can leave you feeling depressed, irritable, or angry.
6. You’re feeling sick all the time or getting sick often.
Chronic stress can actually weaken your immune system. You may be getting sick more often, feeling sick constantly, or experiencing longer recovery times from being sick.
7. Your appetite is changing.
One of the biggest indicators can be a change in your appetite. Depending on how your body reacts to stress, you may be hungry all the time or not hungry at all.
8. You don’t feel like doing anything.
Stress may lead to feelings of depression or apathy. If you’ve been isolating yourself from social situations or losing interest in your favorite activities, you may be under extreme stress.
9. You’re experiencing gastrointestinal problems.
Stress can really take a toll on your gastrointestinal system. If you are experiencing heartburn, nausea, or digestive issues, it can indicate stress.
10. You’ve been feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
Another common indicator of excess or chronic stress is feeling lightheaded or dizzy. This is often a symptom in people who tend to hyperventilate or hold their breath when stressed.
Stress Management and the Workplace
Because work is one of the most common causes of stress among adults, it’s crucial to learn how to manage your stress in the workplace. Especially with the holidays quickly approaching, stress management is so important. Here are four of the most effective ways to manage your stress.
As a manager or supervisor, you can help your team experience less stress by looking for signs of stress among those you work with. Maybe your employees are feeling overworked. Maybe they’re putting too much pressure on themselves to get their work done as quickly as possible. Take a look around and see if there is anything you can do to help. One way to do this is by implementing stress management into your workplace wellness program. Learn more below.
