Stress symptoms

Mentally, you can experience problems with memory, concentration, judgment, decision making, have difficulty controlling your thoughts and lacking creativity , cannot see objectively and instead see only negative aspects, be confused, and want to escape. If you notice yourself having issues in any of these areas, it may be a sign you are stressing too much. Small stressors can have the same symptoms, but the impressions they make may not be as acute.

When it comes to your behavior, stress can change the way you normally act. A complete inability to relax is one of the stress symptoms. For some people who exercise regularly and eat well, it can mean less exercise and eating more unhealthy foods. For others it may simply mean eating less overall. Sleeping problems can arise and become insomnia. Deciding to isolate yourself from people and abandoning your responsibilities can also occur. Some people will turn to alcohol and drug use in order to try and tame their stress, though this choice only leads to more stress.

The way you feel and the way your body physically reacts to stress are also very good indications you need to find ways of managing your stress symptoms. Headaches are the most common symptom, but you can also experience high blood pressure, skin problems, sweating, digestive problems, muscle pain from increased tension, weight changes from under or overeating and a complete lack of energy. You can feel anxious, depressed, fatigued, tearful, irritable, apathetic, and feel less confident. Paying attention to the way you feel and what your body is doing can give you an edge over stress, as it can give you the chance to stop it before it starts.