More symptoms of stress

There are many other symptoms of stress, some caused by workplace bullying. Here are some more examples. You can find more information at www.successunlimited.co.uk.

Physical symptoms

• reduced immunity to infection leading to frequent colds, coughs, flu, glandular fever, etc (especially on days off, eg weekends and holidays),
• aches & pains (with no clear cause - this lack of attributability suggests stress as the cause),
• back pain,
• chest pains and angina,
• high blood pressure,
• headaches and migraines,
• sweating,
• palpitations,
• trembling,
• hormonal problems (disturbed menstrual cycle, loss of libido, impotence),
• physical numbness (especially in toes, fingers, and lips),
• emotional numbness (including anhedonia, an inability to feel joy and love),
• irritable bowel syndrome,
• thyroid problems,
• skin irritations and
• skin disorders (eg athlete's foot, eczema, psoriasis, shingles, internal and external ulcers, urticaria),
• loss of appetite (although a few people react by overeating),
• excessive or abnormal thirst,
• waking up more tired than when you went to bed, etc

Psychological symptoms

• panic attacks,
• reactive depression,
• thoughts of suicide,
• stress breakdown (this is a psychiatric injury, not a mental illness),
• forgetfulness, impoverished or intermittently functioning memory,
• poor concentration,
• flashbacks and replays,
• excessive guilt,
• disbelief and confusion and bewilderment,
• an unusual degree of fear,
• sense of isolation,
• insecurity,
• desperation, etc;
• in the case of bullying: one experiences acute anxiety at the prospect of meeting the bully or visiting the location where the bullying took place, or at the thought of touching the paperwork associated with the case; one is unable to attend disciplinary meetings and may vomit before, during or after the meeting, sometimes at the thought of the meeting or on receiving a threatening letter insisting one attends.

Behavioural symptoms

• tearfulness,
• irritability,
• angry outbursts,
• obsessiveness (the experience takes over your life),
• hypervigilance (feels like but is not paranoia),
• hypersensitivity (almost every remark or action is perceived as critical even when it is not),
• sullenness (a sign the inner psyche has been damaged),
• mood swings,
• withdrawal,
• indecision,
• loss of humour,
• hyperawareness (acute awareness of time, seasons, distance travelled),
• excessive biting,
• teeth grinding,
• picking,
• scratching or tics,
• increased reliance on drugs (tannin, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sleeping tablets, tranquillisers, antidepressants, other substances),
• comfort spending (and consequent financial problems), etc
• effects on personality - shattered self-confidence and self-esteem, low self-image, loss of self-worth and self-love

Other symptoms and disorders

• sleep disorder
• bipolar disorder
• mood disorder
• eating disorder
• anxiety disorder
• panic disorder
• skin disorder.

What should you do if you recognise these symptoms in yourself or a colleague? Look at these details of what to do about stress.