Stress is everywhere.
We all experience varying degrees of stress, whether we're undergoing finals week, waiting for the doctor to call back with medical results, or frantically cleaning our house for family visits. The occasional “manic Monday” is natural, however suffering from daily doses of stress hormones can lead to subtle symptoms that affects not only your mind, but your body as well.
If you think you may be stressed out, look for these 5 key signs:
1. Weird or Reoccurring Dreams
One might think sleeping would be the easiest way to leave your troubles behind; unfortunately, a high stress level can sometimes follow us to bed. Ever dream about missing a plane or bus, lost your car or missing a final exam?These are classic stress-related dreams.
2. Tooth Trouble/Achy Jaw
Grinding your teeth during sleep is a very common sleep habit. Some people hold tension in their jaw and may unconsciously clench it throughout the day. Both symptoms of chronic stress can lead to larger problems such as cracked and/or damaged teeth.
3. Weekend Headaches
The weekend is usually when we can start relaxing. However, do you ever experience headaches on Saturday or Sunday? Sudden decreases in stress can cause tension or “stress” headaches. This type of headache involves both sides of the head and generally feels like tightness in the forehead or back of the neck.
4. Tight Muscles
Stress directly affects our musculoskeletal system. Just like jaw tension, we can hold stress in other areas of our bodies too. Tension in muscles can trigger painful spasms as well as constant eyelid twitching.
5. Confusion
Stress causes distraction and a lack of focus. Sometimes, when we are overcome with stress, we find ourselves in a state of paralysis over mundane decisions. This is because stress hormones reside longest in the brain!
If any of these symptoms ring a bell, you may be more stressed than you realize. To see how stressed you truly are, use our latest app Stress Check! You’ll be able to monitor, record, and lower your stress all from your iPhone or Android!
