The first Wednesday of November in the UK is celebrated as National Stress Awareness Day – this year it falls on 7th November 2012. With economic uncertainty still widespread and many people working longer hours to compensate, stress levels are high in many workplaces. While a little bit of pressure can be good for motivation in the short term, prolonged stress contributes to physical and mental illness and can seriously harm your wellbeing.
If you know how to recognise the early signs of stress, you can start taking steps to combat it before it begins to have a negative influence on your life and health. To this end, we’ve compiled the top 10 signs that you’re suffering from stress. You may not experience them all, but if you’re suffering from several of the symptoms below, you may want to consider speaking to your employer, GP or a counsellor about ways to get your stress under control.
If you know how to recognise the early signs of stress, you can start taking steps to combat it before it begins to have a negative influence on your life and health. To this end, we’ve compiled the top 10 signs that you’re suffering from stress. You may not experience them all, but if you’re suffering from several of the symptoms below, you may want to consider speaking to your employer, GP or a counsellor about ways to get your stress under control.
The first Wednesday of November in the UK is celebrated as National Stress Awareness Day – this year it falls on 7th November 2012. With economic uncertainty... more
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1
Loss of concentration
If you struggle to keep your mind on the task in hand or to follow through with any one line of thought or action when normally you have a sufficient level of focus, you may be experiencing elevated stress. Your mind already has too much to process and can no longer target its attention to whatever is most relevant at the moment. You may find that you’re becoming vague in expressing yourself, forgetful or easily distracted, or that you struggle to make even simple decisions.
2
Muscle pain or tension
Stress often manifests itself in aches, pains, or excessive tension and knotting in the muscles, especially in the shoulders, neck and lower back. You may also experience headaches and stiffness or pain in the jaw, which can be the result of grinding your teeth in your sleep. Exercise, meditation and deep breathing relaxations are all ways of releasing this tension.
3
Negative thinking, worry and anxiety
Stress can lead us to focus on the negative in life, so a rise in pessimism can indicate increased stress. You may also be inclined to dwell on the worst-case scenario and worry about bad things (real or perceived) that could happen in the future or that have occurred in the past, to the point of feeling properly anxious and fearful or even experiencing panic attacks. This may be coupled with a sense of losing control or continual agitation.
4
Problems with time management
You may find yourself working overly long hours (a so-called workaholic) but still not accomplishing as much as you would have previously. The standard of your work may also suffer, and you may find yourself unable to switch off or justify taking time out for non-work activities. You may be continuously running late or feeling panicked about getting things done on time, and your intuition and ability to think creatively may be impaired.
5
Depression and negative sense of self
Stress can contribute to depressive episodes and all the associated symptoms. You may experience prolonged low mood or feelings of anger, irritability, or tearfulness. Mood swings are common, as are a lack of motivation to take part in previously pleasurable activities or to work toward any goals. Your self-esteem and confidence in yourself may also be low, and you may find yourself feeling extra defensive and overly sensitive to real and perceived criticism.
6
Relationship problems
Many people under stress tend to withdraw from any kind of socialising, both because they feel they don’t have time for their friends and also because it may seem like too much effort. You may also experience difficulties in romantic or family relationships, with anger, aggressiveness or irritability getting in the way of successful interactions. A related problem is a loss of libido or other sexual issues, which are a symptom of stress and can play into relationship difficulties.
7
Fatigue or insomnia
Sleep disorders are a common sign of stress, as is constant fatigue throughout the day. If you are having difficulty falling or staying asleep, or find that you sleep for extended periods but still feel tired upon waking, you may be suffering from stress.
8
Increased substance use or abuse
Elevated stress can cause people to resort to excessive smoking, drinking or use of prescription or illegal drugs. It can also cause overreliance on unregulated substances such as caffeine or sugar, as well as an increase or decrease in appetite and a range of eating disorders, which can lead to weight loss or gain.
9
Poor immune response
Your immune system is compromised by constant stress, so you may find yourself constantly catching colds or other bugs. You may also develop allergies or suffer worse allergic reactions than previously, including rashes and skin irritations. Those with conditions such as eczema and psoriasis may find they get worse during times of stress.
10
Digestive and circulatory problems
Stress can cause a range of digestive issues, including everything from indigestion, constipation and heartburn to ulcers, IBS and diarrhoea. It also plays a significant role in raising blood pressure, and as such can contribute to heart disease and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. If you’re experiencing frequent digestive discomfort or high blood pressure, finding ways to better manage your stress may help alleviate the symptoms and should probably be discussed with your GP or private health care professional as a part of the overall treatment.
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