Signs of Stress

Somatization is the projection of some internal conflict (for example, stress) onto the body, giving the impression of illness. When somatic illness occurs, a person is not aware of the relationship between the stress and the physical ailment, and will often complain of distinct physical problems to their doctor. Somatization is extremely common, and we all engage in it at some time in our lives. Here are some of the most common somatic illnesses:

• Tension headaches. There are many examples of physical ailments that are "caused" by stress. The classical example is the tension headache. These headaches are due to the contraction of the muscles of the scalp causing a symmetrical (both sides) pain, usually over the frontal area of the head, which is dull and achy. People with bad tension headaches usually get one once a day, and they notice that the pain is aggravated by stress, such as overworking and missing meals. The treatment for tension headaches revolves mainly around identifying what is stressing the person, and then finding ways to relieve the stresses. Long term pain relief can only be accomplished with stress-reduction techniques. Other muscle aches separate from the head can often be due to somatization. If you often feel achy in the joints and muscles, but the doctor can't find anything wrong, then it may be a sign that your life is too stressed, and it is time for you to take steps to alleviate the situation.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease common in younger women (21-40) that is characterized by intermittent constipation, diarrhea and stomach cramps. It is very common in these cases that the main factor which makes the disease worse are stresses and strains in the patient's life, and doctors advise these patients to try to lead a more relaxed life.

• Back Pain. While most cases of back pain have a physical cause, it is not uncommon for a person who has injured their back to have trouble returning to full health even after they have been given the all-clear by doctors. Their stressed personalities may be unable to accept the information from their bodies that they are OK, so they continue to experience pain. The important point about these (and all) types of somatization is that the person is unaware that the stress in their life is what is causing the pain. It is entirely unhelpful to start judging people with disorders such as these, who some people may think are "making it up in their heads." The same is true for general aches and pains all over the body, including skin rashes, ulcers, diarrhea and high blood pressure.

Somatic illness does not necessarily have to result in aches and pains. Signs that you are stressed can manifest in certain bodily behaviors. For example, highly stressed people may display nervous tics, constantly play with their hair, wash their hands constantly, clean their glasses every ten minutes or scratch their skin. Consider for yourself what you think are your own "nervous habits." These activities may well point to the fact that you are over-stressed and anxious.

The emotional and behavioral signs of stress are probably familiar to all of us, even if we haven't recognized them as signs of stress. Typically, these are the signs that other people observe in us, and they may be the traits in yourself that other people do not particularly like.

• Irritability and hypersensitivity.  Irritability is a strong indicator of stress. A person who reacts in a way that is out of proportion with the stress they have just experienced is probably reacting that way because they are constantly feeling stressed, and just "snap" at that moment. Impatience at being late, or being forced to wait are also very common signs of stress. The problem is, when we do overreact (as we all have, at some stage), we feel entirely justified in our actions. We think we have been wronged, and our actions are just a display of our indignation. For this reason, it’s a good idea to ask those who witnessed an incident where you think you may have gone over the top whether they thought your reaction was rational and justifiable.

• Smoking, drinking, and other drugs. Many people smoke and drink to help control their stress. If they are addicted to smoking, and in a situation (at work, for instance) where they can't smoke, then the stress of not having a cigarette will combine with whatever other stresses are present resulting in extreme stress. If you smoke, you may find it difficult to quit because of the calming effect a cigarette can have on you. But the bad withdrawal phase only lasts a few months, and once you are free of your nicotine addiction, you will find that your stress levels will fall markedly. You will learn to deal with stress without having to light up a cigarette. Combine these benefits with the purely physical benefits of quitting, and you have yourself a powerful argument for self-change. If you find you come from work and have a drink as your first action, you may well be using alcohol to relieve your stress. The same is true for recreational drugs. Ask yourself what the real reasons are for you using?

• Type A personalities. A landmark study into the link between patients with coronary heart disease and the personalities of those patients has established that stress levels may well play a part in the development of heart disease. A person who was classified as being "Type A" displayed excess aggressiveness, ambition, competitiveness and agitation, combined with a relatively unsympathetic disposition and poor temper control. It is reasonable to suggest that people who are of "Type A" personality live high-stress lives. The study found that these people had an increased risk of heart disease, developed heart disease earlier than the control group, and also had a decreased life expectancy. The study did not prove that stress caused heart disease, but the information is nevertheless especially relevant to anyone who lives a high-stress life, and/or sees a little of themselves in the description of a "Type A" personality.

Not sleeping or having interrupted sleep can not only be a sure sign of stress, it can also perpetuate the stress cycle, causing you to feel too tired to even deal with your stresses. Even if you are sleeping well, if you have too much stress you may often feel like you lack energy for no apparent reason; it’s as if your worries have worn you out. You may rollercoaster as well, feeling extremely agitated and restless one moment, and then overly tired the next.

• Insomnia. It is very common for stressed people to complain that they are constantly tired, and can't get enough sleep. If you suffer from insomnia, it might well be because you are too stressed. Stress-related insomnia usually involves lying awake at night, thinking things over at a hundred miles an hour and trying to make sense of your life. If you have trouble getting to sleep at night because you are worrying too much to fall asleep, it is almost certain that you are too stressed. People who are stressed may resort to sleeping tablets to help their insomnia, without tackling the root cause of their sleeplessness - their stress levels. If you take sleeping tablets, ask yourself why you think you are having trouble getting to sleep. The doctor who prescribed the tablets should be able to help you here. Instead of taking the sleeping tablets, which may be addictive, you could aim to reduce stress levels, and get a better night's sleep that way.

• Lack of energy. This is also a common sign of stress. Ask yourself these questions:
  
  - Do you get home from work and just flop down in front of the TV?
  - Do you get takeaway because you can't be bothered cooking?
  - Are you constantly putting off chores until "next week?"
  - Do you ever go to bed not having done the things you'd plan to do with your day?
  - Do you find it hard to get motivated to go to social functions, preferring a night in with a book or watching TV?  
  
  If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are probably suffering from too much stress. Stress does not necessarily have to cause tiredness. In fact, it can make some people agitated and restless (which may cause insomnia). Typically, these people have a lot of trouble unwinding from the day at work, and find it difficult to sit still and quiet for any length of time. They may fidget incessantly, or develop nervous habits.

Difficulty in social situations is another common sign of too much stress. Obsessing over how you are coming across to other people is one way in which stress is exhibited socially. However, even more common is the inability to gain enjoyment out of a good laugh or a good joke. People who show signs of stress in this way may appear to others to be perennially in a bad mood and grumpy towards others. Perhaps this sounds a bit like your boss! Maybe he/she is too stressed.

Difficulty sympathizing with people can be another social sign of stress. Do you find it hard to sympathize with people deserving of sympathy? Are you too self-absorbed, worried about your own problems, to consider the problems of others? Have you recently become very jealous over someone or something for no apparent reason, or have you recently become more obsessive about aspects of your work, your family or your social life? Do you feel more anxious or uptight about new social situations than is normal for you? These questions should act as a guide, but they can help you ascertain how stressed you are. Once you can identify that yes, you might be too stressed, then that knowledge will help you make the next steps towards dealing with stress. Acknowledging that you have a problem is always the first and most important step.