Feeling Stressed?

If you're facing stress over time, and not doing anything about it, you may begin to experience some of the following symptoms of deeper wear and tear.

Stress reactions, or the "fight-or-flight" response of our bodies, are meant to save us. Metabolism, heart rate, and breathing increase dramatically. Blood pressure leaps up. Our muscles get 3-4 times the amount of blood.

This can be useful. "Healthy stress," such as your reaction to a looming deadline, can increase your performance and efficiency. But stress carried on TOO long becomes unhealthy. It decreases your performance and efficiency and leads to burn out.

An expert on stress, Herbert Benson, MD, founding president of the Mind/Body Medical Institute, has classified the symptoms of stress as follows:

Physical symptoms:

• Headaches
• Indigestion
• Stomach aches
• Sweaty palms
• Sleep difficulties
• Dizziness
• Back pain
• Tight neck and shoulders
• Racing heart
• Restlessness
• Tiredness

Behavioral symptoms:

• Excessive smoking
• Bossiness
• Compulsive gum chewing
• Attitude critical of others
• Grinding one's teeth at night
• Overuse of alcohol
• Compulsive eating
• Inability to get things done

Emotional symptoms:

• Crying
• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Boredom (there's no meaning to anything)
• Edginess (a readiness to explode)
• Feeling powerless to change things
• An overwhelming sense of pressure
• Loneliness
• Easily upset

Cognitive symptoms:

• Trouble thinking clearly
• Forgetfulness
• Lack of creativity
• Memory loss
• Inability to make decisions
• Constant worry
• Loss of sense of humor