I understand that at times life can get a little stressful. It can be so hard to not let it get to us, but in many cases, the effects of stress can linger and take hold of us without our knowledge or say so. It can be debilitating when the stress gets too much and the ones that are affected are you and your closest people, and certainly not the ones who are causing the stress in the first place. However, as mentioned earlier we can often not be aware that our stress levels are maxed out, so with that in mind, here are some of the signs to look out for.
You are not sleeping well
One of the areas that stress can affect us is with our sleep patterns. Ever wonder why you are lying awake at night worrying about things you have no control of or can’t even take action to correct at that time of the night? You are not alone.
This is such a common sign that you are stressed and it is actually causing you to feel symptoms of anxiety. Not being able to sleep because your mind won’t switch off then affects you in other ways as you are tired and less productive, which in turn could then cause you to feel more stressed.
It is a vicious cycle. If sleep is an issue, try and work on what you do before bed. A warm drink and relaxation could help. It might even be time to look at other aspects of your life such as eyesight or headaches. Maybe you need to think about making it easier to get appointments and checking for those things that could also be causing a lack of sleep.
You are turning to things like alcohol
When stressed many of us can turn to things we think can help ease the mood and how we feel and alcohol can be one of them. However, what starts out as the odd drink can turn into a habit, and this is when you may want to reign it in a little.
Alcohol is actually a depressant, so in theory, it can make you feel worse, not better. Trying out being sober might be hard at first, but in the long run, it could help you deal with the overall stress issues you are faced with, rather than masking them.
Your moods have changed
Have your moods changed? Are you more snappy and less tolerant? The chances are your stress levels are causing your mood to change and this can make things worse and not better.
If you find that you are doing this, take a moment to step away from the situation and realign your thoughts.
You find yourself upset more than you are happy
It is hard when you find that you are having more down days than good, and if you feel that this is describing your life right now then something’s gotta give. Take the time to work out what is causing you to feel this way.
When are those stress signals heightened at their most? Is it work? Is it your relationship or home life? Knowing what the problem is can be a positive thing, as you can then take the necessary steps to resolve it once and for all.
Let’s hope that this highlights when you may be more stressed out about something than you realize.
