Do You Have Any of These Physical Symptoms of Stress?

It’s important to know the physical symptoms of stress -the first signs that your body is not responding well to the stressors in your life. Regardless of how well you try to manage stress, there will undoubtedly be times when stress gets the best of you.

You feel unsuccessful instead of challenged, as well as burned out, powerless, despondent, afraid, vulnerable, irrational, and just plain numb. If so, then you (as well as 68% of the adult population) are experiencing stress symptoms.

What are some of physical symptoms of stress?

• Tiredness
• headaches
• asthma
• a racing heart
• nausea
• diarrhea
• insomnia
• effusive sweating
• allergic reactions

are all symptoms of stress, but they may conceal those of an underlying disorder or signal the presence of any one of a variety of medical conditions.

Don’t mistake depression, a psychological condition that requires professional aid, for stress, even though they are closely connected. Some stress symptoms like insomnia and other sleeping disorders, persistent exhaustion, frustration, fear, and perpetual feelings of sadness or powerlessness, may foreshadow depression. Some behavioral changes, such as drinking or smoking more than normal, crying more, gaining weight due to frequent eating urges, and increasing the use of drugs, can also indicate depression.

David S. Bell, M.D., in his book Chronic Fatigue, suggests your exam cover at least the following items:

1. The American Cancer Society’s full cancer screening tests.
2. A whole blood count to determine chronic illness or anemia.
3. A sedimentation rate test.
4. A blood test that screens for a varied assortment of medical abnormalities.
5. Test of routine chemistries to rule out thyroid conditions or problems triggered by arthritis.
6. A chest X-ray.

Depending on what symptoms you have, your physician may decide to do other tests as well and may even refer you to a specialist for further testing or medical treatment, particularly if stress is taking a toll on an particular bodily system.

You’ll also want to be sure your stress symptoms aren’t caused by drug interactions. Mixing mediations, especially prescriptive drugs, over-the-counter mediations, and herbal preparations, without first checking for known interactions can cancel out any benefits the drugs are intended to give. In a worst case scenario, mixing drugs can be lethal.

If your physician has eliminated other medical conditions, he may suggest some form of mental health counseling or maybe drug therapy.

However, be sure you have tried all the other stress reducing techniques first. Lifestyle changes that include exercise for stress, relaxation techniques and dealing with workplace stress can help alleviate your physical symptoms of stress. It’s likely one of them will work for you.