Are You Stressed? Review These Stress Symptoms

Review this list of stress symptoms, and if you’re experiencing them, make a commitment to reduce their impact on your health, mood, and relationships.  At the Pritikin Longevity Center, psychologists and exercise physiologists teach methods scientifically proven to calm the mind, from yoga to stress management.
Stress Symptoms 

Physical Signs of Stress Include:

• Shortness of breath
• Tight muscles
• Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
• Headaches
• Gastric distress
• Worsening of existing health conditions

Behavioral Signs of Stress Include:

• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Overeating or other changes in appetite
• Increased drinking and/or cigarette smoking
• Engaging in other risky, destructive, unhealthy behaviors
• Restlessness
• Difficulty handling responsibilities effectively despite efforts
• Social isolation and avoidance
• Procrastination

Emotional Symptoms of Stress Include:

• Nervousness/edginess
• Boredom
• Irritability
• Crying easily
• Anger/short temper
• Easily upset
• Constant worry
• Feeling helpless or powerless
• Loneliness
• Feeling overwhelmed and/or pressured

Stress Affects Your Thinking or Cognition In Many Ways, Including:

• Trouble thinking clearly and concentrating
• Forgetfulness
• Reduced creativity and problem solving skills
• Decreased abstract reasoning ability
• Slowed response time or over-reactivity to situations
• Difficulty with organization and prioritizing responsibilities and/or work
• Thoughts of escaping or running away from “your life”

And when stress continues over time, it can contribute to a spiritual crisis, life crisis, or existential crisis. You may experience:

• Loss of a sense of purpose
• Feelings of emptiness
• Confusion or uncertainty about current and past life decisions and goals