Signs of Stress
The signs of stress are not always obvious, but can range from mild to very severe and life-threatening. There is practically no part of us that is not affected by stress, and it is important to recognize the signs, so you can do something about it.
A staggering 75-90% percent of doctor visits are for problems related to stress.
Once the body manifests symptoms on a physical level, you have reached the end stage of stress. From here, it is time to make a change, or your body is likely to suffer even worse consequences. The longer you continue living in the way that you are now, the more your body will pay the price, (not to mention your mental health).
Stress is the chronic involuntary fight-or-flight response of our physiology, working overtime, even when there is no actual threat to our immediate safety. The fight or flight reaction is fine for pumping up our adrenaline when a lion is about to attack you...but when the body is in a constant state of stress, it exhausts our system, both body and mind, and has a very negative impact on our health, our minds, and our ability to function.
Some of the many signs of stress:
- Headaches
- Cold hands and/or feet.
- Back, shoulder and neck tension or pain
- Jaw tension or pain; grinding teeth.
- Gastrointestinal problems - Cholitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Constipation, Acid Reflux, etc.
- Sexual Dysfunction, Erectile Dysfunction, Decreased Libido
- High Blood Pressure
- Irregular Heartbeat or heart fluttering
- Decreased Concentration
- Memory Problems, forgetfulness, absent-mindedness.
- Increased perspiration
- Sleep Disorders
- Weight Gain, Compulsive Eating
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability or Agitation
- Work performance problems
- Relationship Problems
- Habitual Worrying
- Increase in Substance Abuse and Addictions (drugs, alcohol, smoking, pornography, shopping, etc.)
- Dissociative Symptoms, eyesight problems, poor coordination, increased accidents and injuries.
- Fatigue
- Weak immune system resulting in more frequent colds, flu and other illnesses and infections.
- Autoimmune disorders
- Increase in allergic responses
....and the list goes on and on.
Very often, when I suggest to people the idea of "thinking less" or learning to be "still" or "in-the-moment," they say: "WHAT'S THAT??"
No matter how productive, brilliant, intellectual, capable, powerful or creative you might be -- if you can't let go of your thoughts, if you can't relax, if you can't drop down into the present-moment awareness and FEEL the peace of being still, and be content in the Here-and-Now... then you aren't living! You're living in your head and in the future, and you will never enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you lost your job, or you retired; or if there was a massive black-out and you couldn't plug-in; or if you were forced (god-forbid) to take a day off - or even a little vacation, with no books, no computer, no media, no entertainment - just quiet time on planet earth - would that be heaven - or would it be hell for you?
Be grateful for the signs of stress that you are aware of, because this is your body taking care of you and alerting you to a problem that needs to be taken care of!
If we were not experiencing so much stress on a regular basis, we would experience:
- Greater Joy
- Peace of Mind
- Much better physical health
- Much less physical pain
- Easier, more satisfying relationships
- A more satisfying sex life!
- More efficient use of time - producing more, with less effort
- Better Concentration, more patience, and clarity of mind.
- A much stronger sense of purpose and trust in our intuition
- Trust in our instincts, rather than being filled with self-doubt, inner conflict, ambivalence and fear.
- More Love, Connection, and Acceptance of ourselves and others.
- Focusing on Solutions and Ideas, rather than on Problems and the things that are lacking.
Now that you recognize the signs of stress, it's time to do something about it.
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