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This article was first published 13 years ago

12 signs that you are super stressed

Last updated on: December 3, 2010 16:16 IST

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The result of all this running around malarkey is stress. Everyone has a stressful day, week, or even month, but if you're under chronic, long-term stress then dealing with it becomes so overwhelming that you may fall prey to various diseases.

The thing about stress is that it can manifest in unexpected ways, from nightmares to teeth grinding. So how do you know that you are facing the after effects of chronic stress? Not to worry, we are here to help.

If you experience any of these 12 signs, then you should focus on unwinding before stress takes a toll on your body and mind.

1. Constant colds

Stress depresses your body's immune function which means you are more likely to develop other infections. Severely stressed people are more likely to catch a cold than those people without those kinds of stressors.

2. Teeth grinding


When you're stressed out, you're more likely to grind your teeth in your sleep, which can erode the enamel and crack your fillings.

A sore jaw or achy mouth can be a sign of teeth grinding. To limit the damage it can cause, your dentist may suggest you to wear a mouth guard for teeth grinding at night.

3. Upset stomach and abdominal pain


When stress strikes, your sensitive intestinal lining gets doused in a series of negative hormones that are secreted by the body.

Many gastrointestinal problems such as heartburn, indigestion, abdominal upset, cramps and diarrhea are related to the changes chronic stress produces in our digestive processes.

A 2002 study found that those experiencing the highest levels of stress were more than three times likely to have abdominal pain than when relaxed.

4. Back pain


When under stress you may hold your body in different positions or unconsciously tighten your muscles. This can lead to sore or achy feelings or even nagging pain in the back.

5. Difficulty in falling asleep


Sleep problems affects many people, and stress and anxiety is the number one cause of that. Stress makes it hard to wind down and drift off to sleep.

6. Headaches


If you face headaches particularly after very stressful period or on weekend then you may be suffering from weekend headache syndrome which is a sign that you need to relax.

Migraines in particular are linked to high stress levels so if you get these on a regular basis it might be worth taking measures to reduce your stress to see if that solves part of the problem.

7. Irrational thinking


When you are stressed out, it can be very difficult to concentrate and focus on anything. Sometimes it may seem that there is just so much going on in your mind that it's impossible to think straight.

Your thoughts are not always rational, making it hard to think clearly. Small challenges can then become huge obstacles.

8. Acne/Pimples


When you are stressed, your body releases androgen into your blood. This hormone increases the sebum level in your body which clogs pores, causing blemishes.

9. Sensitive gums


Results of a research published in the Journal of Periodontology indicate that there's a strong link between stress and periodontal disease.

As stress weakens your immune system, your body is not able to fight off bad bacteria that settles around your gum line causing inflammation, bleeding and pain.

In addition, researchers say that the stress may also be a risk factor for poor oral hygiene.

10. Itchy skin or rashes


A study published in the American Journal of Pathology found that stress can activate the immune system in the skin, bringing on the type of skin inflammatory response that produces chronic itch.

This is elementary evidence that stress can lead to skin rashes, and may even worsen disorders such as psoriasis and dermatitis.

Although this study was carried out in mice, researchers say, the same likely holds true for humans.

11. Eye twitching


Your eyelids start twitching by themselves when you are stressed out. Your body may not be stressed out but your eyes may be extremely fatigued.

12. Hair loss


Emotional or physical stress pushes a large number of growing hairs into the resting phase. Within a few months, the affected hairs may fall out suddenly when combing or washing your hair.
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