How To Recognise Stress

March 9th, 2010 Posted in Depression

Too much stress can not only make you feel bad and perform ineffectively, but can also make you very ill? Mentally and physically we are all susceptible to stress no matter what age or walk of life. Insomnia, panic attacks, and premature ageing have all been associated with stress. Prolonged stress is also a known contributor to high blood pressure, circulatory problems, heart disease, diabetes and impotence.

There are many options for stress management. Spa treatments, such as facials, aromatherapy, and massages are traditional remedies for relieving stress and muscle tension. Meditation and yoga are becoming increasingly popular solutions for balancing the body and mind. Sufferers of stress often find that physical exercise, like running, kickboxing, martial arts, or cycling, can be helpful in relieving stress. If you really want to improve the quality - not to mention the length - of your life, then beating stress is a very good place to start.

A little stress is normal, and poses no risk to your health. If you think you might be over-stressed, be on the lookout for these 10 symptoms:

Sleeping problems: Your mind races with anxious and worried thoughts which keeps you awake. You consistantly sleep through your alarm. Your sleep is often disturbed and restless.

Listlessness: You lose interest in your hobbles and things you used to enjoy. You feel sad, worried, worthless, or guilty. Everything seems hopeless.

Trouble Eating: You eat too much or too little. You experience unexplained weight loss, or gain.

Fatigue: You feel perpetually tired or exhausted. You feel weak or faint.

Lack of concentration: Simple tasks become difficult, you can't organise yourself and forget things. You have problems retaining new information and keeping focused on your job or task.

Physical Pain: You have frequent or severe headaches, nausea, back pain, chest pain, or trouble breathing.

Hair Loss/ Skin Breakouts: You've noticed excessive hair loss, skin rashes, hives, itching or sores.

You are irritable, hostile, and easily wound up and angered.

Panic Attacks: You’ve experienced a sudden attack of intense fear, followed by rapid heart rate, loss of breath, sweating/chills, shaking and chest pain, seemingly occurring out of nowhere.

Medication: You self proscribe or abuse medicine and sleep aids that have been prescribed to you. You have started to drink way more than you used to and have started taking drugs.

you, or someone you know, may well be experiencing high levels of stress and it is important to come up with a way of bringing it back down. If you are experiencing panic attacks, self-medicating, or are severely depressed or suicidal, you should consult your doctor immediately.