Contrary to popular belief, stress is not always a bad thing. Conflict is a necessary force that serves as a catalyst for change and development. The truth is that most people outgrow the stress they are immersed in, and they emerge as better, more resilient people.
However, this does not mean that there aren’t people suffering from stress. This article is meant to serve as a self-help guide to help make it easier for readers to determine if the stress they’re dealing with is no longer a catalyst for improvement, but more a festering sickness that bars a patient from progress and a fulfilling life. Here are some signs that you may be coping with too much stress:
Psychosomatic signs
Many studies have confirmed the correlation between mental health and physical health, that a strong body also influences a strong mind, and an ailing mind will also cause psychosomatic symptoms to manifest.
Physical pain is a common indicator that you may be under too much stress, as the signals that represent pain are similar to the signals that represent depression. It’s easy for the brain to mistake one signal for the other.
Your body also enters a fight-or-flight mode when you are under excessive levels of stress. An increased heart rate and blood pressure will trigger your adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol in preparation for a struggle, even when there is no visible threat in your immediate environment.
Emotional and mental distress
Evasive behavior is also an indicator that you might be under more stress than your body can handle. People who flee from their problems do so because they are unable to handle the situation. A sense of constant worry, a feeling of being overwhelmed, unmotivated, and unfocused are a few clear indications of this.
Coping with stress
Most people can cope with stress, but there are people who aren’t as resilient. The pandemic also caused numerous problems when it forced the majority of people to isolate themselves from those who would have served as their support systems.
This forces people to seek out alternative ways to relieve stress, which will often come in the form of addictive behavior.
Some people find relief by excessive drinking, smoking, gaming, and many other unhealthy activities. A habit is deemed disruptive if it interferes with the normal course of your day and if it adversely affects your ability to make rational decisions.
The pandemic has also forced victims of abuse to be trapped at home with their abusers. These people have had almost no way to seek help, even if they were willing. This is why having an online therapist on call can be beneficial.
Seeking professional help should be the first step to coping with high levels of stress because these people will always have a grounded perspective of what you’re going through.
You don’t have to wait for things to become worse before seeking professional help either. We all have varying degrees of resilience, and if it’s enough to bother you, it should be taken seriously.
Adam Mulligan did his degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
