However, everyone reacts to stress differently. Feeling stressed may be obvious for some but others may not notice until it becomes more severe. But overstress or too much stress can be detrimental to your physical and mental well-being as it can cause your body to deteriorate. How can you know if you’re experiencing a normal level of stress or if you’re actually overstressed? Although stress affects everyone differently, there are some common signs you might be overstressed.
Your Sleep Patterns Are Off
Most of us have experienced a sleepless night and woke up feeling tired and groggy. When someone is overstressed, their mind is overwhelmed and it affects their ability to fall asleep and remain asleep. A 2014 study with over 2,300 adult participants showed a significant association between stress exposure and an increased risk of insomnia.
You Feel Depressed
It is understandable that major life events such as the death of a loved one and job loss can cause feelings of sadness and depression. But stress due to daily life problems such as financial difficulties, troubled relationships, health problems and parenting responsibilities can also cause depression. It is important to note that depression is related to other factors such as family history, environment, brain chemistry, certain medical conditions, and poor nutrition.
You Feel Anxious or Irritable—Or Both!
When you’ve been experiencing a high level of stress over an extended period of time, you may feel overwhelmed. You may have too many things to and you might feel like you’re unable to get it all done. This can create feelings of irritability. Whether it’s preparing for an interview or going on a first date, it’s normal to feel anxious every so often; however, if you’re feeling anxious all the time, it could mean you’re overstressed.
You’re Getting Frequent Headaches
Whether it’s from a bad night’s sleep or a hangover, you’ve probably experienced a headache before. However, one of the common symptoms of overstress is getting frequent tension-type headaches This type of headache can feel like there is a band wrapped around your head that’s slowly tightening. A longitudinal population-based study published in 2014 revealed that increasing stress was associated with an increasing number of days a participant experienced a headache each month, specifically for those with tension-type headaches and younger populations.
You Have Digestive Issues
Chronic stress can cause digestive issues such as heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea and exacerbate symptoms of those who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and other functional gastrointestinal diseases.
Racing Heartbeat and High Blood Pressure
You can feel your heart beating faster when you’re out for a brisk walk or moving some heavy furniture. However, if your heart is racing when you’re standing still or sitting, it could mean you’re overstressed. When you are experiencing stress, both your heart rate and blood pressure go up. However, if the stressor is short-term (aka situational stress), your heart rate and blood pressure will return to normal levels. If you are stressed for a long period of time, your body will, consequently, be in overdrive for an extended period of time.
You Notice More Acne
Picture this: it’s the night before a big presentation and as you’re brushing your teeth, you notice a massive pimple has popped up right on your forehead. Keep in mind that there are other factors that can contribute to acne aside from stress such as inflammation, clogged pores, bacteria, and hormonal changes.
You’re Getting Sick Often
The effectiveness of your immune system depends on the level of stress your body is experiencing. When your body is constantly under stress, your immune system becomes vulnerable and its ability to fight off infections and viruses decreases.
You Feel Achey
Chronic pain and chronic stress go hand in hand. If someone is in pain, they feel stressed and if they’re constantly stressed, it can cause aches and pains. One of the reasons prolonged stress can cause aches and pain involves cortisol which is released during the body’s stress response. In normal situations, cortisol is an anti-inflammatory hormone; however, chronic stress and repeated surges of cortisol cause cortisol dysfunction. Cortisol dysfunction causes inflammation which, in turn, creates widespread tissue and nerve damage.
Your Sex Drive Is Down
Stress can cause changes in libido. If you’re finding that you’re less interested in sex than you used to be, you could be experiencing overstress. A 2021 study looked at the association between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s reproductive health. It surveyed over 1000 women and found that 45% said that they experienced a decreased sex drive due to stress. It is important to consider other factors that affect one’s libido including hormonal changes, psychological factors, smoking, alcohol consumption, and other social factors.
