|  | Mental Health | Stress

Signs & Symptoms of High Stress Levels

Living in a fast-paced world filled with family and job-related demands, it is common for people to complain of trying to cope with ever-increasing levels of stress (or environmental pressures). While a little stress can help keep you alert and focused, too much can inflict damage on you both psychologically and physically. To maintain good mental health, it is helpful to recognize the signs of severe stress as early as possible so you can take action to prevent potential damage to your bodies, lives and relationships.

  1. Risk Factors

    • Some factors that put some people at risk of severe stress include depression; a feeling of loss of control over their jobs or lives; loss of a job, relationship or a loved one; loneliness; mental or physical abuse; anger; fear; or inability to trust others. A poor diet and lack of proper sleep and rest as well as ill health also put individuals at risk of stress.

    Causes

    • Stress is caused by anything that a person interprets as a threat to her coping abilities. If we are unable to adapt to changes or are deeply unhappy in our job, relationship or station in life, and we have been trying to cope with these feelings over a long period of time, we can exhaust our ability to cope.

    Physical Symptoms

    • Common symptoms of severe stress include physical illnesses such as recurring headaches, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, insomnia, heart attacks and unexplained physical pain. High blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, impatience, and low sex drive are also symptoms of high stress.

    Psychological Symptoms

    • Rather than exhibit physical symptoms, some people who suffer from severe stress have symptoms that indicate an adjustment disorder. If these individuals cannot cope with a bad marriage or a pervasive feeling of failure if they did not complete college, they can suffer job burn-out, memory difficulties, and inability to make decisions. Sufferers of extreme stress typically procrastinate, feel uptight and overworked, and exhibit nervous tendencies, including drug and alcohol use.

    Medical Diagnosis

    • When a patient complains of severe stress, or if the doctor notices any of the key physical symptoms of stress, he may either do a complete work-up on the patient to discover the problems causing the stress and ensure the problems are not caused by another physical malady. In the case of psychological symptoms, a doctor may refer the patient to a psychologist or psychiatrist.

    Treatment

    • Doctors often prescribe anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications to treat symptoms of severe stress. They may also advocate for more exercise, which promotes the body's own "feel-good" chemicals (endorphins), as well as encourage better eating habits. Professional counseling is also helpful for some people who need to adjust the way they deal with stress, as is yoga, massage and meditation.

Stress - Related Articles