symptoms of too much stress - Lynette M. Burrows

Recognize Your Stress Levels

In 2013, I wrote a blog post called 10 Warning Signs You’re Doing Too Much. It has been my most popular blog post ever since. It’s a sign of our times. We are all under stress almost all the time. The pressure to be more, do more, have more is intense. Add to that legitimate fears about your (or a loved one’s) physical, emotional, or financial safety and your stress levels are higher. Then there are community and political stressors. Your stress levels today may not be exhausting, but tomorrow they could be. And when you live with stress every day, you may not recognize your stress levels and how they affect your life.

What is Stress?

In a medical or biological context, stress is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure). Stress can initiate the “fight or flight” response, a complex reaction of neurologic and endocrinologic systems.
healthline.com

What Causes Stress

Each one of us faces challenges every day. From traffic jams, to spills, demanding bosses, unsympathetic spouses, or life crises (relationships, financial, or health). And we each respond to the stress in our life differently. Some of us can handle more stress than others. But all of us have biological responses to the stress we face.

Under stress our body, specifically our adrenal glands, release hormones. Cortisol, also called the stress hormone, regulates several things. Read more about Cortisol on WebMD. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (also called Adrenaline) are catecholamines. The adrenal glands also release catecholamines when you are physically or emotionally stressed. These hormones help your body go into the fight-or-flight response.

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.
Etty Hillesum

When the fight or flight isn’t an appropriate response, such as in a work situation, the fight-or-flight response may distort into physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral signs. Do you have any of these signs of stress?

Physical Signs of Stress

Low energy
Headaches
Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea
Aches, pains, and tense muscles
Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
Insomnia
Frequent colds and infections
Loss of sexual desire and/or ability
Nervousness and shaking, ringing in the ear, cold or sweaty hands and feet
Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
Clenched jaw and grinding teeth

Emotional Signs of Stress

Becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody
Feeling overwhelmed, like you are losing control or need to take control
Having difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind
Feeling bad about yourself (low self-esteem), lonely, worthless, and depressed
Avoiding others

Doing something that is productive is a great way to alleviate emotional stress. Get your mind doing something that is productive.
Ziggy Marley

Cognitive Signs of Stress

Constant worrying
Racing thoughts
Forgetfulness and disorganization
Inability to focus
Poor judgment
Being pessimistic or seeing only the negative side

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.
William James

Behavioral Signs of Stress

Changes in appetite—either not eating or eating too much
Procrastinating and avoiding responsibilities
Increased use of alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes
Exhibiting more nervous behaviors, such as nail biting, fidgeting, and pacing

We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.
John Newton

Many thanks to WebMD for the lists of symptoms of stress.

How to Relieve Our Stress

In times of life crisis, whether wild fires or smoldering stress, the first thing I do is go back to basics… am I eating right, am I getting enough sleep, am I getting some physical and mental exercise every day?
Edward Albert

First, you must recognize your stress levels. You must know when you are under stress that is affecting your physical, emotional, cognitive, or behavioral well-being. (see the symptoms above or the 10 Warning Signs). Then you as Edward Albert said, go back to basics. The basics are important. If you aren’t eating right or getting enough sleep and exercise, you won’t handle the stress as well as you might wish.

You are braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
From “Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin” (1997) by Karl Geurs and Carter Crocker

There are events and pressures that may be out of your control. But when you recognize your stress levels, you can decrease your signs of stress. Take Christopher Robin’s words to heart. You are Braver and Stronger and Smarter than you think. You can handle what you must. Stay tuned next week for tips on how to reduce your stress.

Does the End of the Year Stress You Out?

It’s the last month of the year–a busy, busy time. Not only do we continue our usual work schedule, but we also prep the house for the holidays (whichever one you celebrate), we fix big meals, we spend time with family, and we reflect back on the past year. I don’t know about you but I enjoy all those things. Yet, at the same time, I can get overwhelmed. So much stress! Does the end of the year stress you out?

What is Stress?

Stress is your body’s way of handling any kind of demand or threat. When you face a threat your body is designed to release hormones that kick your body into high gear. These hormones are called stress hormones. They cause your heart to beat faster, your muscles to tighten, you breathe quick, short breaths, and your senses become sharper. This is the fight or flight response you probably learned a bit about in school.

Back when we were cave dwellers this fight or flight response to stress was life-saving. Today, stress can keep you on your game so you perform your best, it can warn you of and get out of potentially threatening situations. But, this same fight or flight response releases all those stress hormones when you are stressed out about an argument with your spouse, gift buying for the holidays, or work, or family situations. In other words, for those stressful times that are not life-threatening. And boy do we have non-life-threatening stress. (Or is that just me?)

What Causes Stress?

Anything can cause stress. Things that stress me out may not cause you any stress at all. Stress can be very short-term or very long term. Situations that can cause stress include:

• Being bullied

• Working too hard

• Losing a job

• Marriage or relationship problems

• Recent breakup or divorce

• Death in the family (or close friend)

• Difficulty in school

• Family problems

• Busy schedule

• Recent move or change of jobs

• Financial problems

• Chronic illness—yourself or a loved one

• Retirement (yes, you read that right)

• Rigid thinking

• Negative thinking

Symptoms of Chronic Stress

Long-term stress can lead to your body being ultra-sensitive to stressful situations. Ultra-sensitive, your body will release stress hormones even when the situation isn’t that stressful. Over time these high levels of stress hormones can lead to changes in your behavior and in your physical and emotional health.

Physical symptoms of chronic stress include:

• Headache

• Muscle pain or tension

• Nausea, dizziness

• Diarrhea or constipation

• Change in sex drive

• High blood pressure

• Chest pain, rapid heart rate

• Frequent colds or flu

Emotional symptoms include:

• Feeling you can’t get things done

• Moodiness

• Anxiety, racing thoughts

• Restlessness

• Lack of motivation

• Irritability

• Sadness or depression

Behavioral symptoms include:

• Nervous habits—chewing fingernails, pacing, etc.

• Sleeping too much or too little

• Eating too much or too little

• Smoking, using alcohol or drugs ‘to relax’

• Withdrawing from others

Levels of Stress

Do you ignore minor levels of stress? Do you know when you’re getting close to being overcome by stress? Learn more about your levels of stress.

Asking for Help Isn’t a Failing

If you are experiencing behavioral, physical or emotional symptoms of stress there are things you can do to lessen your stress levels. You can do some things for yourself (we’ll discuss those next week). You may want to talk to a trusted counselor such as your religious leader or a therapist. If it’s overwhelming you ask your physician if medications might help you manage.

If you are thinking of giving up, of hurting yourself or others, don’t wait.

Get help now.

Go to the emergency room, call 911, call a local suicide prevention hotline, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You don’t need to give your name.

Does the end of the year stress you out? I hope your stress is temporary. If it’s chronic, I pray that you find relief soon. What time of year are you most stressed? Next week we’ll talk about things that influence how stress affects you and ways to improve your ability to handle stress.

10 Warning Signs You’re Doing Too Much

Are you like me and ~~burning the candle at both ends~~ over-committed yourself to classes, a day job, writing, blogging, and other activities? Perhaps you or a loved one has had a sudden, unexpected health problem. Or you’ve simply gotten worn down by the day-to-day things that get under your skin. How do you know when you’re doing too much?

Lynette M Burrows, science fiction author; Lynette M. Burrows, author; Lynette M. Burrows, author action suspense science fiction — Burn courtesy of Patrick Feller on Flickr commons

Now you barely have the energy to get through the day. Or you’ve caught the current flu bug or cold and you can’t seem to get over it. Your body and mind are screaming ENOUGH!

Don’t let get to the point that you feel like a pile of burnt matches. Know the signs that the stress is getting too much.

Lynette M. Burrows, author; Lynette M. Burrows, science fiction author; Lynette M. Burrows, action-suspense science fiction — matches courtesy of Debs on flickr commons

Ten Warning Signs That You’re Working Too Hard:

Your Productivity Declines – you put in more hours, yet get less and less done.
No Time – for a favor, a commitment, a date with your friend or sweetheart, or even for your cherished indulgences.
You Forget – to eat, an appointment, where you put that report or your keys.
Things Are Out of Control – you’re always late; your normally neat desk is a mess; the dirty dishes are mutating in the sink; the stacks of bills or laundry (or both) are quickly becoming a mountain you can’t climb.
Lack of Focus or Creativity – you flit from one task to the next, never finishing and never find a solution; you struggle to come up with new ideas, solutions to problems, or how to express an idea.
Loss of Joy – you are beginning to dread tasks that normally you find enjoyable.
Sleep Issues – you can’t sleep; can’t stay asleep; or you want to do nothing but sleep.
Irritability – you snap at loved ones unjustly; you find yourself ‘just one more stupid driver’ short of total road rage.
Health Issues – you have migraines or stomach problems on a daily basis; your acne, arthritis or asthma flares more frequently.
Warnings from Friends and Family – you haven’t talked in weeks; your significant other tiptoes around the house afraid to disturb you; friends and family tell you you’re always busy, or they sit you down for an ‘intervention.’

You don’t want to know how up-close and personal I know all those warning signs. Really, you don’t. 🙂 But you do want to know what you can do when you recognize the warning signs in yourself.

Five Things to Do to Beat Stress:

1. Check Your Body

Are you fatigued despite getting 7 or 8 hours of sleep? Is your urine dark? The first sign of dehydration is fatigue. Be certain to drink plenty of water every day.
Is your resting heart rate up? Is your blood pressure up? If yes, be certain you get more sleep and more exercise. It’s not a matter of ‘when I can fit it in,’ it’s a matter of get it done or pay a price.

2. Re-prioritize – take a day to look at what you want to accomplish.

Look hard at your list. Are there some things that really don’t need to be done right now? Put them aside.
Is there some pieces of what you do that you can outsource? Hire a laundry lady or a housekeeper; have the secretary type up those letters; or you can ask family to help with tasks for a while.

3. Make a new plan. Break the task into smaller chunks that are more manageable. Make goals that allow you time to do the next four items on this list.

4. Schedule Fun – do something you love. Even just one hour a week can help. Take a walk, a swim, a jog. Meditate. Listen to music. Watch a movie. Read a book.

5, Take time off – An hour, a day, a week or more. Do something entirely different, at a different pace. Give yourself permission to breathe, to laugh, to do absolutely nothing.

Slow Down

Slowing down is not something I do willingly. I tend to be a bit (hubby chimes in with “majorly!) obsessive. When I’m committed to a project, I throw everything I’ve got into that project. I forget to sleep, to eat, to call friends and family. This is true not just of my writing or blogging, but of attention to my day job, household chores, whatever I want to ‘get done.’ I don’t seem to know how to pace myself. But, I’m learning.

If you push yourself too hard, something has got to give. Don’t be like me and let exhaustion make it impossible to work. Yes, there are times when an extra work load is needed. Just remember to listen: Listen to your body, your mind, your friends, and your family.

It’s nearing the end of summer and I’m hearing and reading that many people are feeling a bit overwhelmed. How about you?

Are you nearing Burn Out? Which of the steps above do you think you’ll find useful?

Have you pushed yourself too hard in the past? How did you recover?

Or have you learned to slow down?

This only lists 10 warning signs you’re doing too much and a mere 5 ways to de-stress. For more suggestions read Recognize Your Stress Levels, To Stress or To Sleep, Does the End of the Year Stress You Out? and Think You Know How to De-stress.