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Stress is the body’s response to feeling threatened or under pressure. It is very common, can be motivating to help us achieve things in our daily lives, and can help us meet the demands of home, work and family life.
But too much stress can affect our mood, our bodies, and our relationships, especially if we have no control over it. It can make us anxious and irritable and affect our self-esteem.
Experiencing a lot of stress over a long period of time can also lead to a feeling of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, often referred to as burnout.
Stress can manifest itself in a wide variety of symptoms, but there are some basic symptoms. These symptoms can be broadly categorized into four different types:
1. Physical: Tiredness, headache, migraine, insomnia, muscle pain/stiffness (especially neck, shoulders and lower back), palpitations, chest pain, loss of libido, irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal cramps, nausea, tremors, cold extremities, flushing or sweating and frequent colds.
2. mental: Impairment of concentration and memory, indecision, enthusiasm or deflating, confusion, no sense of humor.
3. Emotional: Anxiety, nervousness, depression, anger, frustration, worry, anxiety, irritability, impatience, hot temper.
4. Behavioral: Pacing, fidgeting, nervous habits, eating more, loss of appetite, increased dependence on props – smoking, drinking, drug use; crying, yelling, swearing, blaming and even throwing or hitting things.
However, just because you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms doesn’t mean you’re stressed. A certain amount of pressure is a natural part of everyday life. The danger comes when things get out of hand and this pressure turns into chronic stress – something that can harm both our physical and mental well-being.
If you are stressed at home, chances are your work will suffer, while if you are stressed at work it will affect your private life. This creates a dangerous cycle of depression from which it is almost impossible to escape.
Source: NHS