The signs and symptoms of stress range from the benign to the dramatic — from simply feeling tired at the end of the day to having a heart attack. The more serious stress-related problems come with intense and prolonged periods of stress. Here are some of the more benign, commonly experienced stress signs and symptoms. Many will be all too familiar to you.
These are the physical signs of stress:
Tiredness, fatigue, lethargy
Heart palpitations; racing pulse; rapid, shallow breathing
Muscle tension and aches
Shakiness, tremors, tics, twitches
Heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation
Nervousness
Dry mouth and throat
Excessive sweating, clammy hands, cold hands and/or feet
Rashes, hives, itching
Nail-biting, fidgeting, hair-twirling, hair-pulling
Frequent urination
Lowered libido
Overeating, loss of appetite
Sleep difficulties
Increased use of alcohol and/or drugs and medications
These are the psychological signs of stress:
Irritability, impatience, anger, hostility
Worry, anxiety, panic
Moodiness, sadness, feeling upset
Intrusive and/or racing thoughts
Memory lapses, difficulties in concentrating, indecision
Frequent absences from work, lowered productivity
Feeling overwhelmed
Loss of sense of humor
That’s just for starters. Prolonged and/or intense stress can have more serious effects: It can make you sick.