Stress is not always bad, as it helps you to conquer fears, perform under pressure and motivate you to get something done. But if you are constantly feeling frazzled, in a state of tension and anxiety then it is time to take action to bring your nervous system back into balance as too much stress has a negative effect on your body’s physical and emotional state. You can protect yourself and also improve on yourself by learning how to recognize the signs and symptoms of chronic stress and take steps to reduce it.
3 Unexpected Signs You Have Too Much Stress in Your Life
You’re always sick and just can’t seem to get over it
If you feel that you get cough, sore throat or fever, you may want to blame on the office workload or the sneezing coworker. But when we are under pressure our bodies secrete a stress hormone called cortisol which helps us in the short term. But if you are stressed out continuously these hormones are not as helpful and can be depleted over the time. There are even more side effects like stress slows wound healing, contribute to the reactivation of viruses.
What to do: So when you feel sick all the time, listen to your body when you feel tired or drained. Make time for rest and extra sleep. Allow your body the time it needs to recover.
There is trouble concentrating
When you are overworked, you cannot focus on what is in front of you. Research has shown that long term exposure to excess amounts of cortisol leads to shrinking of hippocampus, which is the brain’s memory center. Long-term stress stimulates growth of the proteins that might cause Alzheimer’s disease.
What to do: If you find yourself experiencing this during workday, take a few long inhales and exhales. Deep breathing plays a vital role in our thought process. This type of breathing can help control the heart rate and blood flow, as well as muscle tension.
You have a constant headache that just won’t go away.
If you experience throbbing or feel pressure anywhere on the head or temple area, than it can be tension or stress headache. Many times people point to particular troubles in their life that might be causing such a pain, but the lifestyle is be to blame instead. Always keep in mind that if your head pain feels like a migraine headache, the worst headache of your life, or a headache that wakens you from sleep, those are signs of a dangerous health problem. For which you need to consult a doctor immediately.
What to Do: When stress is the main reason behind your headache, have less stress in your life. Sometimes the most effective way a doctor can treat a patient is to teach them about their symptoms.