The most common symptoms of stress are feelings of tension and a feeling of being overwhelmed by all you have to do, but symptoms can vary from one individual to another and a sign of stress can be not actually recognising that you are stressed. Symptoms of stress to look out for include physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms.

Physical symptoms can include: headaches, dry mouth and/or throat, nausea, butterflies in the stomach, bowel problems, unusual gain or loss in appetite and/or weight, skin problems, high blood pressure, excessive sweating, rapid or irregular breathing, tightness in the chest, increased incidence of allergies, frequent colds and/or flu, menstrual problems, sexual problems, etc.

Emotional symptoms can include: irritability, feeling depressed, intolerance, aggressiveness, fussiness, restlessness, tension, anxiety, despondency, loss of concentration, feelings of frustration, feelings of panic, nightmares or disturbed dreams, dithering about decisions, frequent crying, loss of libido, feelings of loss of control, illogical worries and/or fears, etc.

Behavioural symptoms can include: increased smoking, increased alcohol consumption, increased use of medication, over-eating, obsessive dieting, grinding teeth, an eye tic, finger or foot tapping, nail biting, scratching scalp or hair twiddling, pacing the floor, excessive concern with time, loss of interest with personal appearance, loss of sense of humour, increased lethargy, accident prone/distance judgement, insomnia, difficulty awakening in the morning, etc.

Stress results from not getting your emotional needs met in balance and stress symptoms are caused by constant firing off of the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism. Symptoms are more likely to develop if you are not engaging in adequate physical exercise to burn off the stress hormones that are produced when the ‘fight or flight’ is fired off; and also if you do not have other strategies for dealing with stress on a regular basis.

All therapists in the MindFully Well network can help you with stress management. We can teach you techniques that you can use to help yourself to deal with stress, build your resilience and improve your coping skills.

(If you are concerned about any of the above symptoms, it is advisable to consult your doctor to out-rule any other possible causes)

By Mary Spierin MindFully Well Psychotherapist – Counsellor Dublin/Blackrock