Checklist: 8 non-obvious signs that you are under stress all the time
alexander savina
It seems that stress has long become a constant element our life - sometimes we get used to it so much that we stop noticing discomfort. At the same time, constant tension can affect both emotional and physical condition. We have collected several non-obvious signs that you are under constant stress. Remember that some of them may indicate other conditions - for example, insomnia can be a sign of depression, and headaches can be caused by a variety of reasons (from vision problems to dehydration). So do not delay the trip to the doctor.
1
You have trouble sleeping
One of the common effects of stress on the body is a change in sleep patterns. For example, unexpected insomnia: stress can cause both short-term (acute), which lasts several days or weeks, and chronic, which lasts a month or longer. In addition, anxiety can make sleep shallow and restless: if you sleep as usual or even longer than usual, but in the morning you still feel overwhelmed or broken, this may be your case. If sleep hygiene does not help, and sleep remains shallow, it may be worthwhile to think about what makes you anxious - or maybe ask a specialist.
2
You become annoying
Constant stress also affects the emotional state: for example, flashes of anger and irritability can be a sign of it. Of course, not any irritation is a sign of something more (we have already told why anger is an important emotion). But if ordinary situations lead you out of yourself that you wouldn’t pay attention to before (for example, colleagues clarify some trifles about your work, and you want to shout at them in response), there is reason to think. Irritability may occur due to the fact that the nervous system becomes hypersensitive - and we react to what is happening around us especially emotionally. Remember that irritability can be a symptom of other health problems - so it makes sense to turn to an endocrinologist and a neurologist.
3
It's hard for you to concentrate
Another problem that can be encountered due to constant stress is memory and concentration problems. Studies show that stress affects the prefrontal cortex, which, in turn, is associated with the formation of memory. So if it is difficult for you to memorize and hold information in memory, it may be that it’s all about constant tension.
Of course, in every life, from time to time, something happens that prevents you from concentrating on other things - the main thing is that the state of excitement does not become something habitual and commonplace.
4
You have digestive problems
Few people have pain or rumbling in the stomach, diarrhea or constipation associated with stress - and yet. For example, irritable bowel syndrome (a condition in which a person regularly feels discomfort in the abdomen, but studies show that he has no health problems) is associated with depression and anxiety, and in some cases it can be a psychosomatic disorder. Remember that under these symptoms there may be other conditions: if you find blood in the stools, your weight has dropped dramatically, the temperature has risen or the blood test parameters have changed, consult your doctor - although we recommend doing this anyway to make sure that everything in order.
5
You often have a cold
Another alarming symptom is the weakening of the immune system. Long and intense stress affects the immune system and can make the body more susceptible to various infections. Experts point out that people who are confronted with chronic stress become more vulnerable to viral infections, and also get sick more often and longer - for example, a cold or flu. In addition, vaccinations in their case may be less effective. So if you are regularly in bed due to illness, perhaps the reason is not only in the cold season - but also because you are under constant stress.
6
You overeat, or, on the contrary, eat too little
Stress can affect our eating habits in different ways. In the short term, because of him, we may lose our appetite: we feel threatened, adrenaline rush occurs, which puts our body in a “hit or run” mode - as a result, it begins to accumulate strength for flight or struggle and puts hunger “on pause”. In the long run, reverse processes can occur and, conversely, a person begins to eat more than his body needs. In a state of chronic stress, our brain increases the release of the hormone cortisol, which, in turn, enhances the appetite. Studies show that it can also affect the food we choose: in a tense state, we may prefer fatty or sweet foods that are more nutritious and saturated with glucose, which the body can easily process (in English there is an expression "comfort food" - that is, literally "food that soothes"). So if you notice that you have recently switched to "harmful" food, you may be wondering if this is related to your emotional state.
7
You often have a headache
There are many types of headaches, and only the doctor can name the exact cause and the necessary method of treatment. Nevertheless, some are more common than others, and tension headaches are considered to be one of the most common - these are the same pains that we used to be considered "ordinary". The exact cause of their occurrence is unknown, but experts today are inclined to think that they appear also because of stress and anxiety - so if you often have a headache, this may be one of the reasons. To prevent their occurrence is advised including techniques that will help to relax and relax tense muscles: yoga, sports training, massage.
8
You have decreased libido
Like depression and anxiety, stress can also affect libido and quench sexual desire. Of course, everything is very individual, and there is no single "norm" of sex and desire: the fact that for one is very small may be quite enough for another. There is cause for concern if you feel that the situation has become unfamiliar or something has changed and this does not suit you. Do not forget that a variety of factors affect the libido - from hormone levels to relationships with a partner or partner, so you may need the help of a variety of specialists. But stress, too, should not be excluded: if you are constantly tense or anxious, it is not surprising that you want less sex.
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