Stress: Signs, Symptoms, Management & Prevention

Stress is a normal human reaction that happens to everyone. In fact, the human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. ThinkyoumayhaveCOVID-19? Findoutwhereyoucangettested Needavaccineorbooster? Nowschedulingforages6monthsandup ComingtoaClevelandCliniclocation? Visitationandmaskrequirements Home / HealthLibrary / Articles Stress Stressisanormalreactionthebodyhaswhenchangesoccur,resultinginphysical,emotionalandintellectualresponses.Stressmanagementtrainingcanhelpyoudealwithchangesinahealthierway. Appointments&Access ContactUs Whatisstress? Stressisanormalhumanreactionthathappenstoeveryone.Infact,thehumanbodyisdesignedtoexperiencestressandreacttoit.Whenyouexperiencechangesorchallenges(stressors),yourbodyproducesphysicalandmentalresponses.That’sstress. Stressresponseshelpyourbodyadjusttonewsituations.Stresscanbepositive,keepingusalert,motivatedandreadytoavoiddanger.Forexample,ifyouhaveanimportanttestcomingup,astressresponsemighthelpyourbodyworkharderandstayawakelonger.Butstressbecomesaproblemwhenstressorscontinuewithoutrelieforperiodsofrelaxation. Whathappenstothebodyduringstress? Thebody’sautonomicnervoussystemcontrolsyourheartrate,breathing,visionchangesandmore.Itsbuilt-instressresponse,the“fight-or-flightresponse,”helpsthebodyfacestressfulsituations. Whenapersonhaslong-term(chronic)stress,continuedactivationofthestressresponsecauseswearandtearonthebody.Physical,emotionalandbehavioralsymptomsdevelop. Physicalsymptomsofstressinclude: Achesandpains. Chestpainorafeelinglikeyourheartisracing. Exhaustionortroublesleeping. Headaches,dizzinessorshaking. Highbloodpressure. Muscletensionorjawclenching. Stomachordigestiveproblems. Troublehavingsex. Weakimmunesystem. Stresscanleadtoemotionalandmentalsymptomslike: Anxietyorirritability. Depression. Panicattacks. Sadness. Often,peoplewithchronicstresstrytomanageitwithunhealthybehaviors,including: Drinkingalcoholtoomuchortoooften. Gambling. Overeatingordevelopinganeatingdisorder. Participatingcompulsivelyinsex,shoppingorinternetbrowsing. Smoking. Usingdrugs. Howisstressdiagnosed? Stressissubjective—notmeasurablewithtests.Onlythepersonexperiencingitcandeterminewhetherit'spresentandhowsevereitfeels.Ahealthcareprovidermayusequestionnairestounderstandyourstressandhowitaffectsyourlife. Ifyouhavechronicstress,yourhealthcareprovidercanevaluatesymptomsthatresultfromstress.Forexample,highbloodpressurecanbediagnosedandtreated. Whataresomestrategiesforstressrelief? Youcan’tavoidstress,butyoucanstopitfrombecomingoverwhelmingbypracticingsomedailystrategies: Exercisewhenyoufeelsymptomsofstresscomingon.Evenashortwalkcanboostyourmood. Attheendofeachday,takeamomenttothinkaboutwhatyou’veaccomplished—notwhatyoudidn’tgetdone. Setgoalsforyourday,weekandmonth.Narrowingyourviewwillhelpyoufeelmoreincontrolofthemomentandlong-termtasks. Considertalkingtoatherapistoryourhealthcareprovideraboutyourworries. Whataresomewaystopreventstress? Manydailystrategiescanhelpyoukeepstressatbay: Tryrelaxationactivities,suchasmeditation,yoga,taichi,breathingexercisesandmusclerelaxation.Programsareavailableonline,insmartphoneapps,andatmanygymsandcommunitycenters. Takegoodcareofyourbodyeachday.Eatingright,exercisingandgettingenoughsleephelpyourbodyhandlestressmuchbetter. Staypositiveandpracticegratitude,acknowledgingthegoodpartsofyourdayorlife. Acceptthatyoucan’tcontroleverything.Findwaystoletgoofworryaboutsituationsyoucannotchange. Learntosay“no”toadditionalresponsibilitieswhenyouaretoobusyorstressed. Stayconnectedwithpeoplewhokeepyoucalm,makeyouhappy,provideemotionalsupportandhelpyouwithpracticalthings.Afriend,familymemberorneighborcanbecomeagoodlistenerorshareresponsibilitiessothatstressdoesn’tbecomeoverwhelming. Howlongdoesstresslast? Stresscanbeashort-termissueoralong-termproblem,dependingonwhatchangesinyourlife.Regularlyusingstressmanagementtechniquescanhelpyouavoidmostphysical,emotionalandbehavioralsymptomsofstress. WhenshouldItalktoadoctoraboutstress? Youshouldseekmedicalattentionifyoufeeloverwhelmed,ifyouareusingdrugsoralcoholtocope,orifyouhavethoughtsabouthurtingyourself.Yourprimarycareprovidercanhelpbyofferingadvice,prescribingmedicineorreferringyoutoatherapist. AnotefromClevelandClinic It’snaturalandnormaltobestressedsometimes.Butlong-termstresscancausephysicalsymptoms,emotionalsymptomsandunhealthybehaviors.Tryrelievingandmanagingstressusingafewsimplestrategies.Butifyoufeeloverwhelmed,talktoyourdoctor. Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Getuseful,helpfulandrelevanthealth+wellnessinformation enews ClevelandClinicisanon-profitacademicmedicalcenter.Advertisingonoursitehelpssupportourmission.Wedonotendorsenon-ClevelandClinicproductsorservices. 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