Stress is something that impacts all avenues of a person’s life, whether it be physically, mentally, or emotionally. It can then affect several other things like their relationships, work, and overall lifestyle. While many are aware of the mental consequences of chronic stress, such as headaches and panic attacks, there are also quite a few other ways that it can show itself that you might not have known about.
Here are 15 such signs that may be an indication that you are too stressed:
1. Bizarre and Recurring Dreams
Stress can manifest itself in weird ways, and one such way is through dreams. Dreaming about unsettling things can keep you from having a good night’s sleep, as well as make you wake up in a sour mood. If you have been experiencing bizarre or weird dreams, especially on a daily basis, you might want to evaluate your stress levels.
2. Dental Issues
Stress can also cause a whole host of dental issues, from jaw and tooth pain that could be a result of grinding teeth while you sleep to bleeding gums. The former can leave a permanent mark on your pearly whites and put undue pressure on your jaws, and it’s something that is hard to control as it’s done subconsciously while we sleep. The latter is caused by increased production of the stress hormone, cortisol, that can impair the immune system and allow bacteria to invade your gums.
3. Hair Loss and Changes
Men and women lose hair on a daily basis while performing simple acts like showering or brushing, but an increase in the amount of hair loss could point to an increase in the amount of stress in your life. The Mayo Clinic states that long-term stress can increase the production of androgen hormones, which impact our hair follicles and can lead to temporary hair loss.
But hair loss isn’t all you have to worry about. Stress can also cause premature graying of the hair, especially if your genes are predisposed to it as the stress just speeds things along! In the most extreme cases, stress can even result in a condition called trichotillomania, where people cannot resist the urge to pull their hairs out, whether it be the scalp, eyebrows, or other parts of the body.
4. Muscle Twitching
Stress could result in muscle twitches, especially around the eyes. While these can be uncomfortable and annoying, you can relax, as they are quite normal and very rarely painful. According to Women’s Health, the best way to deal with eye twitches is to “close your eyes, try to relax, and breathe deeply” in 4-5 second bursts, while holding the twitching eye with one fingertip.
You could also use over-the-counter artificial tears if you are experiencing dry eyes as well. Other areas that could be affected by twitching include the face, in which case, you should definitely get it checked out by a doctor.
5. Skin-Related Issues
Another unpleasant side effect of stress is an abundance of skin-related issues from itches and rashes to acne. If you notice a flare-up or an increase in a previously-handled issue, it could the body’s reaction to a change in the immune system – whether it is weakened due to stress, or it has kicked into overdrive due to stress hormones.
Acne breakouts, on the other hand, are caused by the same androgen hormones that affect your hair. Additionally, people tend to touch their face more when they are distressed, which would increase the likelihood of bacteria spreading. Moisturizing creams and ointments should help combat the issues of itchy skin, but if you are feeling too lousy, especially if rashes are accompanied by other flu-like symptoms, get yourself to a doctor as soon as possible!
6. Regular Illness
It’s normal to catch a cold once in a while – especially during the dreaded flu-season, but if it seems like any and all viruses that cross your path seem to make a pit stop in your body – it could be because your immune system has been compromised due to stress. We’re referring to the stress hormone called cortisol, in particular, which triggers an inflammatory response in the body’s immune system and makes it more susceptible to bacteria and viruses.
According to a Time magazine interview with Sheldon Cohen, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, “Stressed people’s immune cells become less sensitive to cortisol. They’re unable to regulate the inflammatory response, and therefore, when they’re exposed to a virus, they’re more likely to develop a cold.”
7. Irregular Periods and Severe Cramps
A visit from Aunt Flo’ is already an unpleasant experience that all women are inclined to go through on a monthly basis for a good chunk of their lives. Throw in some stress, and it can be downright unbearable. Stress can cause an intensification of already present symptoms of menstruation such as cramps, hormonal changes, fatigue, acne, etc.
In some cases, stress could even make your period stop completely due to a hormonal imbalance, in a condition called secondary amenorrhea. In the long run, this might even cause fertility issues.
8. Abdominal Fat
Weight loss is already something that most people struggle with; being stressed is definitely not something that helps. Apart from stress itself making it impossible to trim down fat, it also causes an uptick in your appetite, especially for unhealthy foods loaded with fats, sugar, and carbs thanks to hormones like cortisol and adrenaline released when you are anxious. This, in addition to a lack of motivation to exercise and eat healthy, can be detrimental in the long run.
