Any change in your life can lead to stress. This includes even pleasurable activities, such as vacations or new
forms of recreation. You can also be in a stressful situation such as a difficult job or a long-term illness of a spouse.
Listed below are some of the physical, mental, and emotional responses people may have to stress—a few of
which you may not have considered before.
Your physical reactions:
- Change in appetite (increase or decrease)
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth or throat
- Excessive sweating
- Headache
- Muscle aches (neck, shoulders, back, or legs)
- Nervous habits (nail biting, tongue clucking, grinding teeth)
- Sleep problems (too much or too little)
- Tightness in the chest or difficulty breathing
Your thoughts and feelings:
- Always rushed
- Confused
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fearful and anxious
- Getting upset about little annoyances
- Impatient or irritable
- Lacking joy
- Low self-esteem
- Tired most of the time
- Wanting to cry, or crying easily
Your actions:
- Being more or less active than usual
- Driving recklessly
- Lashing out
- Lowered sex drive
- Getting angry easily
- Making errors
- Not getting along with people
- Not trusting people
- Turning to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs for relief
- Withdrawing from friends and family
Everyone responds to stress differently.
Recognizing how you react to stress is an
important step toward managing it. While you
can’t eliminate all the stress in your life, you can
take steps to reduce it by exercising regularly,
getting enough sleep, following a healthy diet,
and meditating or practicing deep breathing.
If you’ve tried these self-help methods but
continue to be highly stressed, get help. Talk
with your primary care provider or mental health
specialist about additional treatment options.