Stress is usually linked to major health issues such as heart disease, depression, obesity, sleep problems, high blood pressure, digestive problems, anxiety, and skin conditions in one way or other. These expenses can often lead to even more stress and more health problems. The Holidays are a prime time for our stress levels to spike. Presents to purchase, parties to attend, quotas to meet, finals to study for, family to entertain, it is all far more stressful than we think until suddenly we are too tired to function. December should be a time of joy, family and friends joining together to share this joy. We would like to offer a two-part series to help you out this season. First, let’s focus on the symptoms stress can have, awareness will help you identify stress in a loved one or perhaps in yourself.
How do you know if you’re stressed out?
- Frequent anger or agitation
- Feeling overwhelmed, sad or hopeless
- Moodiness, going from high to low
- Feeling lonely or isolated
- Constant worrying
- Feeling pessimistic
- Can’t relax
You might also be experiencing physical or behavioral side effects…
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Inability to sleep, or sleeping too much
- Neglecting your responsibilities
- Using alcohol or drugs to relax
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Chest pain or rapid heartbeat
- Frequent colds or little sicknesses from a weakened immune system
- Nausea or dizziness
Wednesday we will discuss what you can do to tackle stress before it gets to you!