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Stress symptoms

Fatigue is one of the first symptoms to arise from stress and one of the last to disappear. If you experience regular or persistent fatigue (tiredness, lack of energy), you may already be on the road to ill health.

If you experience chronic (long term) fatigue you should monitor yourself for other symptoms. Stress can contribute to or mimic just about any symptom you can think of. Here is a list of some common symptoms.

Physical:

fatigue (often one of the first signs)
headache
insomnia
muscle aches/stiffness (especially neck, shoulders and low back)
heart palpitations
chest pains
abdominal cramps
nausea
trembling
cold extremities
flushing or sweating
frequent colds

Behavioral:

pacing
fidgeting
nervous habits (nail-biting, foot-tapping)
increased eating
smoking
drinking
crying
yelling
swearing
blaming
throwing things or hitting.

Mental:

decrease in concentration and memory
indecisiveness
mind racing or going blank
confusion
loss of sense of humour

Emotional:

anxiety
nervousness
depression
anger
frustration
worry
fear
irritability
impatience
short temper

(Source: Posen, David B. "Stress Management for Patient and Physician", The Canadian Journal of Continuing Medical Education, April 1995. Published on the web at www.mentalhealth.com)

This is only a partial list. There are more symptoms to check for, but no list can be exhaustive.

Wait!

If you think that stress is affecting you or someone you know, get help now. If you think that stress may soon become a problem, look at these details of what to do about stress.

Acknowledgement
This material has been reproduced from the World Wide Web site http://www.teacherstress.co.uk and is reproduced with permission. The information provided is for general use only and is not intended to provide personal medical advice or substitute for the advice of your doctor or healthcare professional. Please consult your doctor or healthcare professional if you have questions about the information presented, concerns about individual health matters or the management of stress.