{"id":1287,"date":"2017-11-17T08:53:08","date_gmt":"2017-11-17T08:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=1287"},"modified":"2021-05-14T17:37:23","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T17:37:23","slug":"15-ultimate-stress-symptoms-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-ultimate-stress-symptoms-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"The 15 Ultimate Stress Symptoms and How to Deal with Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Stress is the body\u2019s natural response to something that it sees as a threat. Whenever you are confronted with a dangerous situation, whether that danger is real or imagined, the body turns on its stress response. It\u2019s supposed to protect you from whatever danger you are dealing with by making you more focused, alert and energetic so that you can figure out how to react to the problem, quickly and safely. For example, it can cause you to quickly stop short when you are crossing the street and a car comes speeding down the road, or allow you to figure out how to react to and deal with a loud noise that you hear in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n

While in small doses, stress may be helpful, if you experience too much stress, it can be a bad thing. High levels of stress have been linked to a number of severe conditions, including high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome and a weakened immune system. Since high levels of stress can be damaging, it\u2019s important to know how to identify symptoms associated with it, and to know how to properly handle stress-related symptoms when they do arise.<\/p>\n

1. Rapid heartbeat<\/h3>\n

One of the symptoms that is most often associated with heightened stress is an increased heart rate<\/a>. When you\u2019re confronted with a dangerous situation, you probably notice that your heart suddenly starts pounding. That\u2019s because the stress response is triggering the heart to pump more blood in order to help you become more aware, alert and energized. Usually, after the danger has been confronted, the heart rate will slow; however, if you are under chronic stress, your could experience a rapid heartbeat too often, which could lead various health problems, such as hypertension, a heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. Difficulty remembering<\/h3>\n

When you are confronted with a problem, whether it is real or perceived, it\u2019s not uncommon to have difficulty remembering certain details surrounding the event. When your stress response is activated, your mind is concentrating on how to deal with the problem at hand; it isn\u2019t paying attention to smaller details that it likely views as insignificant. If you are under a chronic stress<\/a>, you could suffer from memory problems in your daily life. For example, you might start to develop issues with your short-term memory, or have issues trying to recall events that have recently occurred.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. Anxiety<\/h3>\n

Stress and anxiety<\/a> go hand-in-hand. The stress response triggers the \u201cfight or flight\u201d response, which is directly related to anxiety. Your brain is trying to make sense of the issues that are occurring, and your body reacts by making you quick to assume the worst possible scenario in order to quickly react. While this may be helpful on occasions when there really are dangers that have to be dealt with, if you are under stress for prolonged periods of time, it could lead to chronic, social or generalized anxiety, which a mental health disorder that can become debilitating.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Lowered Immune System<\/h3>\n

When the stress response is activated, the immune system<\/a> is suppressed. That\u2019s because the body is trying to focus all of its energy on how to deal with the danger that you are confronted with. When you experience high levels of stress for long periods of time, your immune system can become severely weakened. Since the immune system helps your body ward off or fight infections, when it is suppressed, you will become more prone to developing health issues, such as more colds, more bouts of the flu, aches and pains and other health conditions.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Stomach Issues<\/h3>\n

Many people who are under high amounts of stress develop issues with their stomach. This issues can include indigestion<\/a>, acid reflux (heartburn), stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, bloating, excess gas, or even irritable bowel syndrome, a condition that causes diarrhea and constipation. When the stress response is activated, virtually every part of the body is affected, including the gastrointestinal tract. If you are experiencing high amounts of stress over a long period of time, it stands to reason that issues with the stomach would arise. This can compound anxiety, which in turn, can make your stress even worse.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Low energy levels<\/h3>\n

Another extremely common symptom of stress is decreased energy<\/a> levels. If you have been under an extreme amount of stress, or you have been stressed for long periods of time, you might notice that your energy levels have changed. You may feel tired all the time, no matter how much sleep you get. You might have a decreased desire to partake in the activities that you once enjoyed. Even doing simple tasks, like going to work or cleaning your house might become cumbersome. Your using so much energy to contend with the stress, leaving little for anything else.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. Twitching eyelids<\/h3>\n

A pulsating feeling in the upper or lower eyelid is known as an eyelid twitch. There are several issues that could cause this an eyelid twitch<\/a>, such as nutritional deficiencies and lack of sleep; however, it is also a physical symptom that is commonly associated with stress. Your eyelid, either the upper or lower, will feel like it is pulsing, and you will more than likely be able to actually see the pulsing. Stress affects the central nervous system, which could be the reason why eyelid twitches occur as a result of high amounts of stress.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. Do breathing exercises<\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re feeling any of the symptoms that are associated with stress, one of the best things that you can do is practice breathing exercises<\/a>. One of the easiest ways to do this is to breathe in deeply, hold your breath for a period of a few seconds, and slowly exhale. When you become overly stressed, your body starts to take shorter breaths. This compounds the issue, as you are not taking in enough oxygen and expelling enough carbon dioxide. Breathing exercises will help you focus on breathing properly, which can ease your stress.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. Mediate<\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re overly stressed, it\u2019s easy to lose sight of yourself and your surroundings. You become so focused on whatever it is that is stressing you that you forget to focus on your own needs, your own thoughts, and the world around you. Meditating<\/a> promotes mindfulness, which allows you to focus in on yourself, your thoughts and the things that surround you. It has been found that practicing meditation can on a daily basis, even for just a few minutes a day, can help to significantly lower stress levels. Add meditation to your daily routine to ease your stress.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Get some exercise<\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re feeling a lot of stress, try exercising to release some of it. Believe it or not, exercising is very similar to meditating as it allows you to spend quality time with yourself an focus on your own thoughts and the world around you. It also allows you to release your worries in a positive way. Though it may sound counterproductive, exercise can provide incredible stress relief. Running, yoga<\/a>, aerobic, swimming, jumping jacks, or even a brisk walk around the neighborhood can help to lower your stress levels and enhance your physical and mental health.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. Try aromatherapy<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re feeling overly stressed, aromatherapy<\/a> can provide the relief that you seek. Certain scents, such as lavender, vanilla, peppermint, sandalwood, and various others, have been found to have a direct impact on mood, which in turn has a direct impact on mentality. Aromatherapy is believed to help reduce anxiety, encourage better focus, promote greater concentration and calmness, and lead to a better mindset. Try using aromatherapy while you\u2019re working out, while you\u2019re sleeping, while you\u2019re sleeping or throughout the day. Use a diffuser to disperse aromatic oils and your stress levels could be significantly reduced.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. Take a bath<\/h3>\n

When your stress levels are high, fill up a tub with warm water and go for a soak. Add some bath salts and essential oils to increase the effects. Turning off the lights, turning on some candles, reducing all distractions and playing some soothing music can also help to make your soak in a bathtub more relaxing and stress reducing. Taking a bath allows you the opportunity to focus on nothing but yourself and your thoughts. It also helps to stimulate the circulation of blood and releases the buildup of tension in the muscles<\/a>, combating stress.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. Get some rest<\/h3>\n

When your energy levels are low as result of high stress levels, resting is the only thing that you might have enough energy to do. However, though you might not be physically engaged in an activity, your mind is probably going a mile a minute. Instead, take the opportunity to turn off your brain<\/a> and get some much-needed rest. Turn off all technology and remove all other distractions. Lie down in a dark room, turn on a diffuser filled with essential oils, and let yourself drift off to sleep. Resting repairs the body, which reduces stress.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. Try REST therapy<\/h3>\n

REST stands for Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy. It is also known as sensory deprivation therapy, floatation therapy, or simply \u201cfloating\u201d. This type of therapy involves lying in a shallow pool of water that is filled with 100s of pounds of Epsom salt<\/a>, while having all light, sound and smell omitted. The salt water allows you to effortlessly float, which reduces physical stress, and the reduction of environmental stimulation allows you to focus on your thoughts, clear your mind and truly let go. REST therapy has been found to significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. Get a massage<\/h3>\n

Massages are another excellent way to reduce stress levels. Massage<\/a> offers a variety of physical and mental benefits. It helps to expel the buildup of lactic acid in the body, which tends to accumulate more when you are highly stressed out, causing aches and pains and compounding stress. In addition to reducing physical tension, a massage can also help to reduce mental tension \u2013 or stress. It gives you the opportunity to clear your mind and practice mindfulness, which greatly reduces stress levels. It also improves circulation, which has also been found to drastically lower stress levels.<\/p>\n\r\n

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