We’ve all been stressed at some point in our lives. While stress, at times, can be useful, as it helps us get the most important things done and even conquer our fears, but one has to agree, being stressed all the time, is not fun at all.
According to research, close to 90 percent of significant illnesses are related to high-stress levels. So it becomes necessary that you de-stress and take up things that make you happy. But do you want to know the best way to handle your stress levels? Start by spotting these early signs of stress.
You’re just not able to focus
When you’ve to deal with a truckload of work while balancing your other commitments, life can get overwhelming. It is exactly at this point, your body starts secreting cortisol, and as per research, prolonged exposure to cortisol might lead to shrinking of the hippocampus, your brain’s memory center. All of this will culminate in you feeling distracted a lot.
You Fall Sick Quite Often
Ever wondered why as weeks and days go by you seem to be catching cold, or coughing a lot, or even feeling a little feverish. Well, it’s not just the changing weather around you, it could well be the stress you’re going through. When you’re stressed, your body secretes a stress hormone called cortisol, though they’re helpful in the short-term when they’re withdrawn from your system as days pass by, your body becomes more susceptible to sickness.
Your memory is a little hazy
Have you misplaced your keys quite a few times this week? Or have you found yourself forgetting a word while speaking? Poor memory recall has often been linked to excessive stress. In fact, research shows that stress can reduce spatial memory, that part of your brain, which helps you locate objects and other seemingly ordinary day-to-day things.
You feel extremely thirsty
When you get a little anxious, it causes your adrenal glands to secrete out stress hormones into your body. This leads to a fluctuation in other hormones, too, which go on to affect your fluid levels in your body. So if you’re feeling thirsty reading this right now, maybe you’re stressed out, and you need to relax first before grabbing that bottle of water.
You have prolonged headaches
If you’ve been experiencing throbbing headaches, or feel excessive pain in the other areas of your head, there might be a chance that you’re severely stressed, and that’s causing all those headaches.
Your back or neck is always aching.
If you’ve got a stiff neck or feel that your lower back is all cramped up after a long day, it could be the sign of stress in your job life or due to a personal situation. It’s not just about the posture you maintain through the day. Also something to keep in mind, stiff muscles in your neck can often cause headaches.
You are not able to get a good night’s sleep
If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night or find yourself worrying or thinking about things that haven’t happened yet, it could be a sign of anxiety. After a long day filled with intellect engaging work, sleep should come naturally to you, but if you find it difficult to fall asleep, it’s possible that your stress levels are high.
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