7 Things that Indicate Your Stress Levels are Too High

Stress can arise from different causes, such as day-to-day responsibilities or traumatic events. Consequently, some physical symptoms may occur. Here, we'll take a look.

With our modern lifestyle, multiple jobs, and everyday problems we need to manage our stress levels. While it’s a normal physiological reaction to any adverse situations that arise day by day, its effects can compound when things get a bit tougher.

It’s been proven that prolonged exposure to high-stress levels can increase your risk of heart disease, a low immune system, and an increase in developing depression. While most of the symptoms of stress are manifested by changes in attitude, there are several physical consequences that can have strong relationships with it.

Some relevant facts about stress

However, the American Psychological Association warns that high-stress levels are affecting the world today more than at any other time in history. Most worrisome is the fact that most cases don’t receive adequate attention and eventually turn into more serious disorders.

Because everyone will suffer from stress at some point, it’s important to know what might indicate that it’s starting to get out of hand. Here are 7 signs that indicate you’re experiencing more stress than normal.

1. Hives or rash as a sign of high-stress levels

If you’ve never had allergies to anything and suddenly notice that you’re covered with red welts or a rash, it may be due to high-stress levels.

According to a publication by The American Institute of Stress, when your body experiences this disorder, the immune system tends to become imbalanced and the body initiates the release of the chemical known as histamine. This causes hives.

2. Constant headaches

Headaches and migraines are common symptoms in people who are under stress or trying to resolve difficult situations. In fact, a publication from the Mayo Clinic suggests that headaches are one of the most common symptoms when stress is affecting someone more than normal.

While it shouldn’t be something to be overly concerned about, if it interferes with your daily activities and doesn’t subside, it’s important to see your doctor or psychologist. Also, you may want to try some relaxation techniques.

3. Upset stomach

A wide variety of digestive disorders have to do with constant or regular episodes of physical and mental stress. According to a WebMD post, one of the body’s responses to intense emotions can lead to stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

In addition, some of these same reactions can trigger other health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart disease.

4. Constant colds

There’s a high probability that stressed out people will get colds. For this reason, it’s convenient to solve these problems adequately and completely since this immune system vulnerability is detrimental to physical and mental health.

Concerning this, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicates that people exposed to high levels of stress have a greater risk of suffering from acute infectious respiratory diseases.

5. Appearance of acne

Everyone knows that acne is a skin problem and multiple factors trigger it. Although teenagers are the most affected population, adults can also experience this issue because of stress.

Although more scientific evidence is needed, a WebMD publication suggests that stress causes the sebaceous glands to increase their oil production and clog hair follicles. This causes the appearance of pimples on the skin.

6. Insomnia

One symptom that indicates that stress is affecting you more than necessary is insomnia and the difficulty of getting restful sleep. This has a lot to do with your emotional state and your daily habits.

A person whose stress levels are out of control can experience muscle aches, thoughts that focus on distressing situations, and a lowered ability to fall asleep when they need to. Moreover, most serious of all is the fact that over time, this takes its toll on the body and physical conditions can develop diminish your quality of life.

7. Excessive fatigue

Fatigue, or extreme tiredness, is a normal reaction that the body has when you’re not getting enough rest and is continuously subjected to physical and mental stress. These symptoms are accompanied by alterations in mood, including depression, anxiety, and irritability.

What to do if stress is affecting you more than normal?

There are some habits, such as eating a healthy diet, doing physical activity, meditating, doing yoga, getting enough rest, and other activities that can help manage stress and minimize the appearance of these symptoms.

However, although stress can be a very common issue today, it’s important to consult with your doctor or mental health professional to find an appropriate treatment.