In the whirlwind of life, stress can often feel like an unwelcome guest at your dinner party. But don’t fret! We’re here to help you navigate through the stormy seas of stress, making those overwhelming moments more manageable and less daunting. Recognising the mental and physical symptoms of stress could be your first step towards preventing them from wreaking havoc in your daily life.
Equipping yourself with the knowledge to de-stress and nurture your wellbeing will empower you to keep those stress levels in check. So, buckle up and join us on this enlightening journey about stress and how to combat it when it strikes!
- The Sickness of Stress: Can Stress Make You Ill? Chronic stress, the unwelcome companion that lingers over time, can cast a dark shadow on your immune system and physical health. If stress becomes your constant adversary, you might find yourself grappling with unpleasant physical symptoms such as:
- Stomach upsets • Stress-induced headaches (and other mysterious aches including muscle or chest pain) • Skin reactions, like stress rashes and hives • Feeling dizzy, sick or faint
For a deeper dive into tackling stress, check out our article on ‘Stress relief: How to tackle stress’, which offers handy tips and a list of essential oils known for their calming effects.
- The Cortisol Conundrum: How to Combat Cortisol Belly? Cortisol, often dubbed as the ‘stress hormone’, can play tricks on your body when stress persists. A surge in cortisol levels can trigger food cravings, leading to weight gain. If you find yourself battling with cortisol belly, here are six strategies to help you cope with stress and maintain a balance of cortisol:
- Embrace a healthy diet • Stay hydrated • Practice mindfulness • Avoid inflammatory foods • Prioritise high-quality sleep • Engage in regular exercise
For more insights on how yoga can help calm your mind and enhance mental wellness, head over to our article on ‘What is yoga?’.
- The Hair-Raising Truth: Can Stress Cause Hair Loss? Yes, stress can indeed cause hair loss. A common and temporary type of hair loss, known as Telogen effluvium, often affects those who experience severe stress or hormonal changes in their body. To counteract stress and protect your hair, consider the following:
- Learn and practice relaxation techniques (such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga) regularly • Engage in regular exercise, which helps manage stress and its effects • Spend time with positive people — isolating yourself can exacerbate stress • Seek professional help from a therapist • Eat a healthy diet (and take a multivitamin if your doctor recommends it) • Treat your hair with care when washing, drying, and styling it
Remember, hair loss from stress isn’t always permanent. If you have concerns or if it continues, consult a doctor or your GP. They may offer a prescription or an over-the-counter remedy to spark hair regrowth.
- The Skin’s SOS: Is Stress Causing My Rash/Hives? It’s possible. Stress can trigger new or exacerbate existing skin conditions. Stress rashes are usually short-lived, often disappearing within 24 hours.
However, if your stress rash or hives are bothersome, over-the-counter treatments such as antihistamines or topical creams can help alleviate uncomfortable symptoms like inflammation or itchy skin.
- Stress vs Anxiety: Are They the Same? Stress and anxiety, though often used interchangeably, are not identical twins. Stress is typically birthed by external factors, whereas anxiety stems from excessive worries that persist even in the absence of stressors.
People under stress may experience mental and physical symptoms, such as irritability, mood changes, fatigue, muscle pain, digestive troubles, and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms usually bid adieu when the stressor is removed.
- The Digestive Dilemma: Can Stress Cause Diarrhoea? Yes, stress can sometimes cause diarrhoea. This is because part of the fight-or-flight response involves diverting energy from the digestive tract to elsewhere in the body.
Sometimes, this can result in symptoms like diarrhoea. Stress can also sometimes trigger diarrhoea in individuals with IBS.
- The Overload Overwhelm: What Happens When You Stress Too Much? Stress can cast a wide net, affecting our emotions, thoughts, body, and behaviour in myriad ways.
Recognising common stress symptoms can help you manage them. Unaddressed stress can lead to a plethora of health problems, ranging from heart disease to depression.
- The Headache Hurdle: Does Stress Cause Headaches? It’s not a mere coincidence that headaches often strike when you’re stressed. In fact, tension headaches, the most common type of headache, are often birthed by stress and muscle tension. With a tension headache, you may feel pain or discomfort in your head, scalp, or neck.
Stress can also trigger other types of headaches, like migraines, or exacerbate them.
- The Acne Attack: Where Does Stress Acne Appear? Experts believe that stress may trigger an increase in oil production. Our brains trigger the production of hormones which may cause our skin to overproduce sebum, an oily substance on the skin surface.
Due to this, stress acne is more likely to appear in the oiliest areas of the face, such as your forehead, nose, and chin.
The Final Word Stress is an unwelcome guest that everyone will encounter at some point in their lives. We hope that this article has illuminated the many different symptoms of stress, from hair loss to an upset stomach. Learning how to pre-empt your stressors and what to do when you feel overwhelmed by them will help you regain control of your environment. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey, and there’s always a way to untangle the stress knot. Stay strong, stay positive, and remember to breathe!