Why You Should Know The Early Signs Of Stress

There’s a reason we feel more tired, overwhelmed, agitated, and overworked than ever. That reason is stress. It is important to recognize the early signs of stress. In this busy day and age, we are bombarded with information all day every day. If you suffer from Social Anxiety then you have even more stress to deal with and manage daily.

early signs of stress

We’re juggling more tasks and things than ever before. It’s no wonder we’re feeling the pressure in the form of stress. But why does stress make us feel so bad and more importantly what can we do about it?

Stress Is Natural

Let me start by stating that stress is a natural reaction and something that can be beneficial. It’s a way for our body to go on high alert. That comes in handy when you’re trying to jump out of the way of a vehicle heading your way or need to run away from something or someone.

It isn’t particularly helpful when you feel overwhelmed and threatened by a big workload, or are in an argument with your spouse or your kids. If you suffer from social anxiety you can get overwhelmed pretty quickly and send your stress levels through the roof.

Everyone gets stressed out from time to time. Things go around and around, and it’s normal to feel anxious, frustrated, or overwhelmed. But when stress interferes with everyday life, it can become an overwhelming problem. Stress can become difficult, if not impossible, to overcome on your own.

Stress-related symptoms can include headaches, stomach issues, insomnia, anxiety, muscle pains, fatigue, restlessness, irritability, and trouble concentrating. If you notice any of these symptoms, or if you experience them often, it may be time to seek professional help.

stress in the kitchen
young waitress and chef fighting in a kitchen

Know The Early Signs Of Stress

One of the first things you need to do to be able to outsmart stress and do something about it when it hits you is to recognize the symptoms and what’s causing them. In short, you need to recognize stress early and learn why it makes you feel bad.

Only then can you start to do something about it proactively.

Stress affects everyone, but many people don’t realize they are experiencing it: Stress is any reaction to threat, whether it’s real or perceived. People experience stress slightly differently, but some common symptoms include the following:

  1. Increased heart rate
  2. Sweating
  3. Muscle tension
  4. Feeling jittery
  5. Sleep disturbances
  6. A loss of appetite
  7. Wheezing
  8. Low energy
  9. Feelings of hopelessness
  10. Feeling as if you are losing control
  11. A feeling of being overwhelmed
  12. Irritability
  13. Depression
  14. Anxiety
  15. Feeling frustrated

Often the first reaction to stress is emotional.

You feel agitated and maybe even angry. After a while, that frustration can turn to feeling tired, run-down, and even depressed. The physical symptoms may start a little later but go right along with how you’re feeling.

Physical symptoms of Stress

  • You get tense
  • Sore neck and shoulder muscles
  • Headaches
  • Stomach pains
  • Upset stomach and diarrhea
woman with stress headache
Stressed young woman in kitchen

If you notice any of those symptoms, ask yourself if it could be stress-related.

Back when stress was a reaction to a physical threat, all of this made sense. We wanted to have tense muscles and feel agitated because it would help us run faster and fight harder. In short, we had an outlet for the pent-up energy and adrenalin stress causes.

The problem today is that we no longer have those physical outlets. Add to this the fact that many of us are under constant stress and it’s no wonder that we’re feeling bad and suffering adverse health effects.

Now that you know why stress is making you feel bad and how this happens, you can start to do something about it.

Be proactive and cut as much stress as you can out of your life.

Sure, that’s easier said than done, but even simple little things can help and will add up over time. If you’re stressed out in the morning because the kids aren’t ready to head out the door in time, spend a little time in the evening getting book bags, lunches, and school clothes ready. If you get stressed out about not finding the files you need, reorganize, so you have everything at your fingertips.

Last but not least, find a physical outlet for the pent-up energy caused by stress.

Get Rid of Your Stress

Reduce the amount of stress in your life. Don’t take on more tasks than you can handle. Look for small changes you can make to reduce your stress.  It could be as simple as taking a few deep breaths each morning or getting more sleep. It is important to take the time to care for yourself so your levels of stress do not increase.

  • Workout
  • Go for a run
  • Punch a pillow
  • Scream at the top of your lungs

Stress affects people in different ways, and there’s never a one-size-fits-all answer. Stress can make you irrational, angry, and depressed. Or stress can cause you to be more irritable and anxious, making it hard to focus on things. How you respond to it and what you do to reduce it will determine how successful you are in dealing with it.

Get that energy out so you can go back to your calm, stress-free self.