Stress

Stress affects all levels of our functioning including cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral. When we are under prolonged periods of stress, our bodies respond in many ways. Here are some warning signs and symptoms of stress established by helpguide.org.

Stress Warning Signs and Symptoms
Cognitive Symptoms	Emotional Symptoms
Memory problems Indecisiveness Inability to concentrate Trouble thinking clearly Poor judgment Seeing only the negative Anxious or racing thoughts Constant worrying Loss of objectivity Fearful anticipation	Moodiness Agitation Restlessness Short temper Irritability, impatience Inability to relax Feeling tense and “on edge” Feeling overwhelmed Sense of loneliness and isolation Depression or general unhappiness
Physical Symptoms	Behavioral Symptoms
Headaches or backaches Muscle tension and stiffness Diarrhea or constipation Nausea, dizziness Insomnia Chest pain, rapid heartbeat Weight gain or loss Skin breakouts (hives, eczema) Loss of sex drive Frequent colds	Eating more or less Sleeping too much or too little Isolating yourself from others Procrastination, neglecting responsibilities Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing) Teeth grinding or jaw clenching Overdoing activities (e.g. exercising, shopping) Overreacting to unexpected problems Picking fights with others

It is important to remember that the signs and symptoms listed above can also be caused by other psychological and medical problems. You should consider seeing a doctor for a full-evaluation if you are experiencing any of the warning signs of stress to determine if your symptoms are stress-related.

Causes of stress

Top Ten Stressful Life Events

1. Spouse's death
2. Divorce
3. Marriage separation
4. Jail term
5. Death of a close relative
6. Injury or illness
7. Marriage
8. Fired from job
9. Marriage reconciliation
10. Retirement

Source: Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory

Helpguide.org explains stress and how we respond to stress with the following information. The cause of stress varies greatly per individual. Several factors need to be considered when determining your stress response including your personality, general outlook on life, problem-solving abilities, and social support system. What may be stressful to you may go unnoticed to someone else or may even be enjoyed. For example, your morning commute may make you anxious and tense because you worry that traffic will make you late. Others, however, may find the trip relaxing because they allow more than enough time and enjoy listening to music while they drive. The pressures and demands that cause stress are known as stressors. We usually think of stressors as being negative, such as an exhausting work schedule or a rocky relationship. However, anything that forces us to adjust can be a stressor. This includes positive events such as getting married or receiving a promotion. Regardless of whether an event is good or bad, if the adjustment it requires strains our coping skills and adaptive resources, the end result is stress.

Daily Hassles and Demands

It tends to be the daily stressors that affect us the most because we deal with small daily stressors on a regular basis including traffic jams, small disagreements with our spouse, arguing with our child, forgetting to pick up the dry cleaning, etc. Helpguide.org names and defines daily causes of stress as the following:

• Environmental stressors - Your physical surroundings can trigger a stress response. Examples of environmental stressors include an unsafe neighborhood, pollution, noise (sirens keeping you up at night, a barking dog next door), and uncomfortable living conditions.
• Family and relationship stressors - Problems with friends, romantic partners, and family members are common daily stressors. Marital disagreements, dysfunctional relationships, rebellious teens, or caring for a chronically-ill family member or a child with special needs can all send stress levels skyrocketing.
• Work stressors - In our career-driven society, work can be an ever-present source of stress. Work stress is caused by things such as job dissatisfaction, an exhausting workload, insufficient pay, office politics, and conflicts with your boss or co-workers.
• Social stressors - Your social situation can cause stress. For example, poverty, financial pressures, racial and sexual discrimination or harassment, unemployment, isolation, and a lack of social support all take a toll on daily quality of life.

Helpguide.org states that not all stress is caused by external pressures and demands. Your stress can also be self-generated. Internal causes of stress include:

• Uncertainty or worries
• Pessimistic attitude
• Self-criticism
• Unrealistic expectations or beliefs
• Perfectionism
• Low self-esteem
• Excessive or unexpressed anger
• Lack of assertiveness

Risk Factors for Stress/ Emotional Effects

Helpguide.org describes the risk factors of stress and the emotional effects of stress with the following information. The presence of a stressor doesn't automatically result in disabling stress symptoms. The degree to which any stressful situation or event impacts your daily functioning depends partly on the nature of the stressor itself and partly on your own personal and external resources. Chronic stress grinds away at your mental health, causing emotional damage in addition to physical ailments. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to everyday pressures and less able to cope. Over time, stress can lead to mental health problems such as:

• anxiety
• depression
• eating disorders, and
• substance abuse

Severe Stress and Trauma

Post-traumatic stress disorder is described by helpguide.org with the following information. Severe stress reactions can result from sudden, catastrophic events or traumatic experiences such as a natural disaster, sexual assault, life-threatening accident, or participation in combat. After the initial shock and emotional fallout, many trauma victims gradually begin to recover from its effects. But for some people, the stress symptoms don't go away, the body doesn't regain its equilibrium, and life doesn't return to normal. This severe and persisting reaction to trauma is known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Common symptoms of PTSD include:

• Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or nightmares about the trauma
• Avoidance of places and things associated with the trauma
• Hypervigilance for signs of danger
• Chronic irritability and tension
• Depression.

PTSD is a serious disorder that requires professional intervention.