Symptoms of Stress: How Stress Affects Your Mind, Body, and Emotions

While you may not realize it, you have probably suffered from the symptoms of stress numerous times. As you go through the day handling urgent e-mails, family crises, deadlines, and rush-hour traffic, the symptoms of stress will affect you both physically and emotionally. The symptoms of stress will also impact your behavior and your thought process.

Scientists believe the symptoms of stress are rooted in our ancestry. Thousands of years ago, humans needed the symptoms of stress to survive. If a wild animal attacked or a tribe went into battle, the human body would begin a chemical response. This stress response prepared each person to fight or run away.

These days, we confront different challenges to set off the symptoms of stress, such as losing a job, moving a residence, financial woes, or rebellious teenagers. The symptoms of stress are many, but here is a partial list of stress symptoms that you may recognize in your own life:

• Anxious thoughts
• Moodiness
• Short temper and agitation
• Impatience and irritability
• Digestive problems like nausea, constipation, or diarrhea
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Skin breakouts and problems
• Weight loss or gain
• Feelings of burnout and depression
• Neglecting responsibilities, procrastination, and decreased productivity

In limited amounts, stress can actually help you. For example, a little bit of stress will usually motivate you to stay focused and get a project done. Too much stress, however, can lead to the negative symptoms of stress which wears heavily on your body. Over time, exposure to the symptoms of stress can lead to obesity, anxiety, heart disease, and a suppressed immune system. The negative physical and emotional consequences of the symptoms of stress should compel all of us to find ways we can relieve our stress on a daily basis.