Healthy Beat

Here are 9 of the tell-tale signs that you’re overstressed and you don’t even know it!

1. YOUR BODY IS IN PAIN.

When we’re in pain we tend to ignore it until it becomes unbearable, which is completely wrong. Every pain in our body needs to be addressed, especially because it can indicate a more serious issue. Stress can cause your body to start breaking down, leading to stomach issues, diarrhea, ulcers, tense muscles, chest pains and palpitations. Your entire body will start aching, your arthritis will kick in and the headaches will become more intense. Never ignore these pains, address the issue and accept the fact that you’re pushing yourself too hard. Managing your stress begins with accepting and become aware that things must change.

2. YOU AREN’T SLEEPING WELL.

If your sleep patterns have recently changed, be it too much sleeping due to exhaustion or insomnia, you need to change something. You’re probably overstressed and your body finds the best way it can to cope with the stress. Meditation, exercise and a healthier diet can help you with the sleep problems, but the root cause should be discovered and dealt with properly. Do you worry a lot before you go to bed? Are you having nightmares? Whatever happens throughout the day can linger on in your subconscious and cause you sleep problems. Stress can interfere with your inner peace. Even though your sleep habits can change as you age, when you’re overstressed your sleep is the first thing that gets affected.

3. YOU HAVE WEIGHT FLUCTUATIONS.

Any unexplained weight fluctuations can be a result of stress. It can slow down your metabolism and you’ll start gaining weight. If you suddenly lose your appetite and the pound start shedding away it can also be a result of stress, every person reacts differently to stress. Whatever the case, you should address the issue and fix the problem.

4. YOU CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT WORK OR PROBLEMS.

If you constantly think about work, finances, and other challenges without being able to unwind and relax, stress has a hold of your life. Mark Twain said, “Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.” You cannot find a solution until you detach from the problem. Worrying can only escalate to cause psychological and physical problems. If you are constantly checking your phone, emails, and other forms of communication from work, it is time to really face what’s important in your life.

5. YOU CAN’T SIT STILL.

The inability to sit still is a sure sign of being overstressed. Anxiety and stress can make you uncomfortable with your own thoughts and your mind can be your worst enemy. If you can’t go for a walk, sit in contemplation, do gentle stretching exercises or just be with your own thoughts, there is a chance you are overly stressed. Find a way to manage your anxiety and fears and face what’s really troubling you. Avoiding the problem can only make it worse and soon you’ll be facing a much bigger one.

6. YOU HAVE LITTLE PATIENCE WITH OTHERS.

Stress can make you impatient and intolerant, making you snappy and irritated pretty quickly, even towards the ones closest to you. However, it’s not their fault that you’ve taken on too much and they should become your exhaust. If you snap on the smallest things and get angry for no reason you’re probably dealing with too much stress and you should find a way to slow down and relax.

7. YOU HAVE MAJOR MOOD SWINGS.

If you experience major mood swings, feeling happy one moment and crying the next, stress could be affecting your hormone levels. Bottling up and carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders doesn’t help you need to open up and talk to other people. Discover what’s really causing this because stress can enhance anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders and addictions (from alcohol, drugs, sexual or food) and other mental health issues.

8. YOU HAVE HAIR LOSS.

Carolyn Jacob, MD, founder and medical director of Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, says that “Typically, people shed about 100 hairs a day. Most people don’t even notice. Sometimes, a significant stress of sort may spark a change in your body’s routine physiological functions, and cause a disproportionate number of hairs to go into the resting phase at the same time. Then three to four months later, sometimes longer, all those resting hairs are shed. The effect can be alarming. The types of events that disrupt the normal hair cycle can be caused by the substantial physiological stresses on your body.”  If you start experiencing alarming hair loss you need to reevaluate your stress levels and find out what’s causing it.

9. YOU HAVE A LOSS OF LIBIDO.

Stress can affect your libido, and this is the last thing people think about. Whenever stress levels increase, the stress hormone secretions responsible for sexual response get affected. Stress causes exhaustion and the inability to experience any kind of intimacy. If you notice that your libido has weakened you should try stress management and some relaxation technique. Your relationship shouldn’t suffer the consequences, so open up and discuss your problems; it will make things easier for everyone.