6 Signs of Stress You Shouldn't Ignore
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Symptoms of stress may hurt your health even if you are unaware of them. For example, you may believe that illness is responsible for your nagging headache, recurring insomnia, or poor productivity at work. Instead, stress might be the root of the problem. So let's talk about the 6 Signs of Stress You Shouldn't Ignore.
Stress symptoms can impact your thoughts, your body, and your behavior. Recognizing typical stress signs might help you manage them. On the other hand, unmanaged stress can contribute to various health issues, including depression, anxiety, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
The majority of us have grown conditioned to feeling (at least slightly) anxious. Stress may quickly become an accepted aspect of everyday life. So much so that many of us may be unaware of how stressed we are, overlooking real symptoms of stress.
6 Symptoms of stress You Shouldn't Ignore
Memory Issues/ Brain Fog:
Stress can trigger a hormone that clogs your memory and fog your brain. Cortisol, a crucial hormone produced during stress, has been related to memory issues. Stress has also been connected to disorders like anxiety and depression, which have been indicated as risk factors for dementia. The connection between stress and poor memory is relatively strong and direct. Moreover, stress and worry can harm our memory and fundamental learning capabilities, and other parts of our bodies.
Headaches:
Headaches are a normal side effect of stress, but in extreme circumstances, you may also have muscle pain or tension, neck or jaw pain. This is a sign of stress that you shouldn't ignore.
Itchy, irritated skin: Anxiety, tension, and stress may aggravate skin diseases such as rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema, but it can also cause hives, itching, and excessive perspiration. Stress can also cause hair loss and acne.
A weakened immune system:
When stressed, our bodies find it more challenging to fight illness and this makes us more susceptible to sickness.
Chest pain:
This is among the stress symptoms and signs of stress you shouldn't ignore, but if it occurs, know that it is a serious matter. Seek medical attention and take note of whether or not it is the consequence of stress.
Stomach issues:
Symptoms of stress might include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
Other Possible Symptoms of Stress
Your body communicates stress to you through fatigue, changes in sex drive, reproductive problems, sleep problems, and even an unhealthy change in appetite. Additional symptoms of stress that are often overlooked are lack of motivation, overeating or undereating, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed, restlessness or Inability to focus, irritability, sadness or depression, angry outbursts, and social withdrawal. These symptoms (Buckley) and (Mayo Clinic) are not an exhaustive list. They are just 6 signs we have identified here.
How To Manage Symptoms Of Stress
Managing these stress symptoms boils down to managing your stress (Mayo Clinic). Unfortunately, life can be a fickle thing, and some days will be more stressful than others. However, there are a few options for keeping stress in check and maintaining good health. If you are experiencing stress symptoms, trying to cope with your stress can provide several health advantages. Consider stress-management techniques such as:
● Exercise
● Using relaxation techniques like deep breathing or massage
● Maintaining a sense of humor
● Time spent with loved ones
● Making time for passions and hobbies.
Religious activities and spirituality are linked to better heart health among African Americans
A research project on African Americans with cardiovascular disease found that religious activities and spirituality may be beneficial to heart health.
Compared to the overall population, African Americans are disproportionately impacted by cardiovascular disease. According to American Heart Association research, these disparities are caused by underlying cardiovascular risk factors as well as economic and social inequalities.
Participants took part in interviews and surveys that assessed a diverse range of social and cultural characteristics, including spirituality, religious practice, and heart health. In this study, religious practices were evaluated based on private prayer, religious attendance, and coping with tough situations in life or stressful or traumatic occurrences.
Spirituality was evaluated using three domains associated with theistic spirituality — God's presence, desire for a deeper connection to God, and feeling God's love — and three fields affiliated with nontheistic spirituality — feeling the power in my religion, true internal harmony, and peace, and spiritually touched by creation.
Religious activities were related to a larger chance of excellent or optimal heart health across several components among the 2,967 individuals who participated in the study. Spirituality, religion, and faith may operate as stress barriers and have therapeutic benefits, or they may encourage people to engage in good habits or seek preventative health care.
Find proactive strategies to manage your stress and stress symptoms. Knowing when to be intentional about resolving stressful situations that are within your control and when to engage in your hobbies is an important skill that may reduce or raise stress in the long run. Also, get enough rest and consume a nutritious and balanced diet. Avoid using cigarettes, excessive coffee and alcohol, and illicit drugs.
When should you seek assistance?
If you are unsure whether stress is the reason or if you have made efforts to manage your stress, yet your symptoms persist, consult your doctor. Your doctor may want to rule out any other possible causes. Consider consulting a professional counselor to assist you in identifying the causes of stress, signs of stress you shouldn't ignore, and learning new coping strategies.
Get immediate emergency help if you experience chest pain, especially if you are also experiencing shortness of breath, neck, jaw, back pain, nausea, dizziness, pain radiating into your shoulder and arm, or sweating. These are warning signs of a heart attack and should not be taken lightly.
And, finally, don't let debilitating stress become a normal part of daily life. If you notice any of these physical reactions to stress or are feeling more irritable, anxious or depressed as a result of your stress, make an appointment with your primary care provider.
As always, we’d like to be clear that this blog post isn’t intended as professional counseling or clinical advice. If you need support, please consider speaking to a professional to be evaluated.
If suicidal thoughts are present, call 911 immediately or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room if you are worried about yourself or a loved one taking their own life.
At Comfort Counseling Center, we provide Stress Management Therapy through online counseling for black Christian professionals and entrepreneurs across the state of Texas, Florida, and Massachusetts.
You are welcome to explore our counseling services or contact us to schedule a 30-minute phone consultation to see if we might be able to support you as you journey forward. Please read our Frequently Asked Questions before your consultation.