Symptoms of stress

Stress affects us all. If you can spot the symptoms, you can manage them.

Do note, of course, that these symptoms may also be indicators of other things. (If in doubt, consult you doctor...).

Note also that a stressed person is unlikely to experience all of these symptoms and that even one can be a sign of stress.

Emotional/cognitive symptoms

Emotional and cognitive symptoms of stress include:

• Feeling irritable
• Feeling frustrated at having to wait for something
• Feeling restless
• Unable to concentrate
• Becoming easily confused
• Having memory problems
• Thinking about negative things all the time
• Negative self-talk
• Having marked mood swings
• Eating too much
• Eating when you are not hungry
• Finding it difficult to concentrate
• Not having enough energy to get things done
• Feeling you can't cope
• Finding it hard to make decisions
• Having emotional outbursts
• Generally feeling upset
• Lack of sense of humor

Physical symptoms

Physical symptoms of stress include:

• Muscle tension
• Low back pain
• Pains in shoulders or neck
• Pains in chest
• Stomach/abdominal pain
• Muscle spasms or nervous tics
• Unexplained rashes or skin irritations
• 'Pounding' or 'racing' heart
• Sweaty palms
• Sweating when not physically active
• 'Butterflies' in stomach
• Indigestion and 'the gurgles'
• Diarrhea
• Unable to sleep or excessive sleep
• Shortness of breath
• Holding breath

Muscles work in opposing pairs, with movement caused when one contracts whilst the other relaxes. Stress can result in both muscles working at once. There is thus no movement, but still muscular tension.

Autonomic nervous system

We have an involuntary nervous system called the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which contains two types of nerves.

• Parasympathetic nerves conserve energy and keep the systems in a relatively resting state.
• Sympathetic nerves prepare the body for action thorugh the Fight-or-Flight reaction.

Thus it is the sympathetic system that is affected by stress