Physical and Psychological Symptoms of Stress

Stress is more than just an uncomfortable part of everyone's life---it can actually kill. Having a strong network of friends and family, talking about problems, professional help and medication are just some of the ways to deal with it. While there are several solutions, those who try to ignore it will often be fraught with a number of physical and psychological symptoms that can ruin their day, to put it mildly.

Digestion

• An upset stomach, diarrhea and other gastronomical disorders can easily be brought about by stress. Hunger may disappear altogether, or a person may feel constantly hungry or unable to be sated. Poor food choices and binging on comfort foods, such as heavy meals, candy, sweets and whole pints of ice cream, can add to the stomach upset brought on by stress.

Tension

• Stress can induce tension that is felt throughout the entire body. Headaches are very common stress symptoms that are often so overwhelming and persistent that they don't even respond to medication. Some folks are afflicted with extreme muscle tension, especially around the neck and upper back area. Some will find they have not relaxed their muscles for hours or are actually having difficulty breathing because they are subconsciously constricting their diaphragm and chest muscles.

Habits

• Sleep is often one of the first things to be disturbed when someone is inundated with stress. Being unable to sleep---or sleeping excessively to avoid the world's woes---are both fairly common. Fatigue even with adequate sleep is another sign. Folks under a lot of stress also often engage in harmful habits, such as excessive drinking, smoking, drug use and binging on those unhealthy foods.

Depression

• People under undue stress may have no interest in things they used to enjoy or experience a lack of enthusiasm for anything, period. Depression may set in, especially in teens, and people may begin to feel hopeless, helpless and altogether worthless. Crying jags, tantrums or the desire to hide beneath the bed are common. Here's where stress can become fatal with the worst-case scenarios leading to thoughts of suicide.

Anxiety

• A person under extreme stress will sometimes be plagued by panic attacks or free floating anxiety. Panic attacks are marked by an increased heart rate, sweaty palms and difficulty breathing. They can strike at any moment even when the immediate situation is not stressful. Free floating anxiety is a general feeling that something is wrong, or doom is about to strike at any moment. Both lead to a very unstable and often intolerable state of mind.