8 Signs of Stress on The Body

Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.

78% of the worlds population have experienced at least 1 symptom of stress in their lifetime.

1. Acne

Acne is one of the most common signs of stress however stress doesn't actually cause acne. Research shows that stress triggers hormonal changes that may worsen acne in people already prone to pimples. Acne happens when oil is being produced to clog the hair follicles to allow more acne to form and give the stressed individual more to pick at.

2. Headaches

Headaches are more likely to occur when you're stressed. Stress is a common trigger of tension type headaches and migraine, and can trigger other types of headaches or even make them worse. Scientists believe that when you're under stress, levels of certain molecules and hormones may go up or down.

A few symptoms of tension headaches include:

• Mild to moderate pain or pressure in the front, top, or sides of the head
• Headache that starts later in the day
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling very tired
• Irritability
• Trouble focusing
• Mild sensitivity to light or noise
• Muscle aches

3. Chronic Pain

Pain can be a common symptom and sometimes a good indicator of an anxiety disorder, particularly generalized anxiety disorder. Common signs of chronic pain include:

• Unusually high levels of stress hormones
• Low energy
• Mood disorders
• Muscle pain
• Lower than normal mental and physical performance.

Managing your anxiety is a common way to relieve symptoms of chronic pain.

4. Frequent sickness

Many believe that health problems are the result of bacteria or viruses. But what many people don't realize is that stress can also disable the body’s immune system to make you more susceptible to germs in the environment.

5. Decreased energy & insomnia

It's a known fact that exhaustion is a huge part of chronic stress, it's a state of feeling emotionally worn out and drained. Emotional exhaustion is one of the signs of a burnout.

People experiencing emotional exhaustion often feel like they have no control over life, or they commonly feel "stuck" or "trapped" in a situation. Over time exhaustion can cause permanent damage to your health.

6. Digestive Issues

Stress can significantly impact the way your body carries out simple tasks like swallowing, the release of enzymes to break down food and the categorization of food as nutrients or waste products.

It can cause your esophagus to go into spasms, increasing the acid in your stomach, which results in indigestion, making you feel nauseous and/or giving you diarrhea or constipation.

In more serious cases it can cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), peptic ulcers, and gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD).

7. Appetite issues

People who lose their appetite are so consumed by the source of their stress or anxiety that they can’t do anything else, including necessary tasks like eating.

Often times, stress manifests itself through physical sensations in the body, such as nausea, tense muscles, or a knot in the stomach.

Stress causes increased levels of cortisol, which in turn increases acid production in the stomach. This process is meant to help the body quickly digest food in preparation for ‘fight-or-flight,’ which is caused by adrenaline.

8. Depression

Chronic stress leads to elevated hormones such as cortisol, known as the stress hormone, and reduced serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, which has been linked to depression. It's caused when the stress response fails to shut off and reset after a difficult situation has passed.

You may frequently be in a bad mood, your productivity may decrease, your relationships may suffer, you may develop sleep problems, and you might even find it difficult to go about your normal daily routine.

Dealing with chronic stress involves identifying and tackling the leading causes of stress, which can be challenging and may require significant life changes, such as finding a different job or ending an existing relationship.