Symptoms of chronic stress
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, whether it is emotional, physical, behavioral, or a combination, please consider contacting a professional to help you manage your needs.
Wondering if you need help?
Emotional
- Shock/disbelief
- Fear
- Sadness
- Hopelessness
- Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
- Helplessness
- Anger/irritability
- Shame
- Guilt
- Numbness
- Feeling disconnected from others
- Shutting down
- “Moody”
Physical symptoms/Sensations
- Dizziness
- Faintness
- Shakiness
- Rapid breathing and/or increased heart rate
- Physical pain (such as stomach aches, headaches, muscular tension/pain)
- Panic attacks
- Headaches
- Stomach troubles
- Loss of appetite or increased appetite
- Low energy/fatigue
- Unable to relax
- Troubles sleeping
Mental
- Racing thoughts
- Excessive worry
- Nightmares
- Troubles with memory
- Difficulty making decisions
- Troubles with concentration
- Increase in negative thinking
- Suicidal or self-harm thoughts and/or not wanting to wake up
- Flashbacks
- Intrusive thoughts
- Being on “high alert
- Feeling like you are in a mental fog
Behavioral
- Impulsivity
- Isolation
- Arguing with others
- Increase in substance use
- Smoking more
- Compulsive spending
- Eating changes
- Avoidance
- Disrupted sleep/change in sleep pattern
- Low motivation
- Self-destructive behaviors
When to get support for my troubles
• You experience symptoms associated with chronic stress and struggle managing it on your own.
• You begin to struggle more with day-to-day functioning/performance.
• You notice that you are isolating or avoiding life more.
• Suicidal thinking and/or self-harm thoughts arise. These thoughts may begin as passive thoughts about escaping life stress, not wanting to wake up, or that it would just be easier not to be here.
• Loved ones begin expressing concerns. These changes are not always easy for us to identify on our own.
• You begin using alcohol or other substances more often