Brainy Dose Presents: Signs You Are Suffering From Too Much Stress
Unless you’re a millionaire, you probably stress about all kinds of things, and most
of the time, it’s over money.
That’s not to say millionaires don’t stress, but they usually stress about how to make
even more or they fear losing it all.
Of course there are many other things that also cause stress but shit imagine if you
didn’t have to worry about bills, school, and work and you could just do whatever you
want all the time because you never had to worry about money.
Anyways…
Feelings of anxiety and tension probably get you at some point just about every day and
stress is an emotional issue because it’s the way your body responds to what it perceives
as an acute threat.
The nervous system releases adrenaline and cortisol which are both stress hormones.
People often don’t realize they’re stressed out and they minimize the stress they’re
under and the effect it has.
Now, in this video, you're not gonna learn to become rich, but the good news is that you can train
yourself to spot the signs of too much stress before it becomes a chronic health problem.
Sometimes, physical signs of stress are mistaken to be symptoms of some other issue, so pay
attention to what your body is trying to tell you.
Number 1 - Forgetfulness
If you find yourself forgetting to do things lately, like forgetting to lock the front
door or flush the toilet, you probably don’t have Alzheimer’s but it can be much more
than a silly accident.
Stress and anxiety can mess with your head and result in decrease in concentration and
this can cause forgetfulness.
Ongoing stress can shrink parts of your brain that are responsible for emotion, memory and
your nervous system.
The best way to fight this symptom is to exercise and everything will return to normal once
your stress goes away.
Number 2 - Weight Gain Around The Waistline
When you’re overstressed, your habits change, including your diet.
If you find yourself eating and drinking more, this will result in weight gain.
The “stress hormone” Cortisol plays a role in the fight-or-flight response, which
is the physiological loop that gears your body up to fight against danger, or to run
for your life.
This is vital when faced with immediate danger, but increases in cortisol also occur in response
to chronic, everyday stress.
When cortisol is too high for too long, it can increase the amount of fat you hold in
your belly.
So, if your jeans don’t fit anymore even though you exercise regularly, stress is likely
the cause, and it’s time to combine a healthier diet with stress management.
Number 3 - Stomach Aches
Your nervous system is tightly linked to your digestive system and stress can interfere
with this connection.
If you just had a taco and your stomach is a mess, then just head over to the toilet.
But if it happens often, and you aren’t on a taco diet, it might be stress.
That uneasiness you feel in your belly, might be more than what you just ate.
You can try over-the-counter pills, but the best natural way to deal with this symptom
is to exercise.
Number 4 - Sore Jaw
During the day, you’re ok, but then at night while you’re sleeping, you could be grinding
your teeth.
You don’t know it’s happening until you wake up, but then damn… you feel that sore
jaw.
Now, if you have a black eye complimenting your sore jaw and no recollection of the night
before, then you probably ended up in a situation that you wouldn’t have if it weren’t for
your drunk ass.
Otherwise, it could be stress.
It’s very common to grind your teeth when you’re stressing, and this is really bad
stuff because it can lead to tooth damage and cracked teeth.
It’s best to visit a dentist to see if there’s anything you can do.
Usually they’ll give you a mouth guard for grinding.
Number 5 - Back Pain
The fight-or-flight response to stress increases your blood pressure and speeds up your heart
rate, and the stress hormones tighten the muscles.
This can be very painful.
Move as much as you can.
If you have a desk job, get up every half an hour to stretch and walk around.
If you have a shitty job where your boss is breathing down your neck constantly and you
can’t afford to take a quick break for a stretch every 30 minutes, well, what can I
say, perhaps it’s time to find a better job.
Number 6 - Constipation
You feel like you need to go but it just doesn’t come out.
Well, it’s probably not the tacos.
Perhaps you could try to eat some in this case.
But the cause is likely stress and this time you need magnesium.
Stress hormone production requires high levels of magnesium, and stressful experiences lead
to depletion of this mineral.
In addition, if you’ve been eating loads of sugar, this could be further depleting
your magnesium levels.
Magnesium is often referred to as the “calming mineral” because it affects the way the
brain and muscles relax during stress.
And this includes the digestive tract.
So, you gotta do what you gotta do, and try eating some more spinach, quinoa, almonds and cashews
- and cut down on the sugar.
Number 7 - Cracked Lips or Sore Mouth
This is a classic sign of vitamin B deficiency because B vitamins are necessary for extracting
energy from the carbs, protein and fat we consume every day.
When you stress, you use a lot of energy and the vitamin gets used up.
B6 especially, plays a key role in our bodies producing the happy hormones serotonin and
dopamine which are responsible for our mood, and melatonin which controls sleep.
Eat more foods that are rich in Vitamin B6, such as bananas, leafy green vegetables, spinach,
and potatoes.
Number 8 - Sleeping Too Much
Snoozing and stress go hand in hand.
Stressful situations and feeling stressed over an extended period of time can really
mess with your sleep cycle and daytime alertness.
It’s possible that what you are experiencing is your brain subconsciously making you sleep
longer in order to avoid daytime stressors.
Or, the stress is disrupting your sleep so the hours of shut eye you get are less restful,
causing you to wake up tired.
While a good night's sleep is essential for health, consistent oversleeping has been linked
to a host of medical problems, including diabetes and heart disease.
Practicing good sleep hygiene will help you get a healthy seven to eight hours of sleep
each night, and experts recommend keeping the same bedtimes and wake times every day.
They also recommend avoiding caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime.
Exercising regularly and making your bedroom a comfortable environment can also help you
get the amount of sleep you need.
Number 9 - Weird Dreams All The Time
Strange dreams or even the same ones every night can be a symptom of stress.
They make you feel anxious and on the edge.
If you normally don’t dream (or don’t remember your dreams) and now all of a sudden
it’s the opposite, try to figure out what’s changed in your life and if there’s anything
that adds stress to your day.
It could be the trigger.
Number 10 - Can’t Fall Asleep
If you’re having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and you know that the cause
it’s not caffeine, it’s time to do something about your stress levels.
Stress can also lead to insomnia and then you can’t sleep at all.
According to studies, stress increases the chances of that happening by 19%.
When you’re worried, your nervous system doesn't shut down and you can’t sleep.
Your brain stays hyperactive with no chance of resting.
Try to spend some time "winding down."
A person with insomnia needs a "buffer zone," a period of time to allow the activating processes
in the brain to wind down.
This allows the alerting mechanisms to decrease their activity so that the sleep systems can
take over.
Start winding down two hours before bedtime.
Stop all work and end phone calls, and get off the computer.
Instead, watch a light movie, read a book or listen to some calm music.
Number 11 - Can’t Concentrate
Do you feel like you thrive under tight deadlines and tense situations?
Maybe you do, but most of us don’t.
I know I don’t.
And even if you do, it doesn’t last.
Chemicals in your brain help you stay focused for a while producing adrenaline that enhances
your senses.
But the more time you spend doing this, the more damage you’re causing.
Too much adrenaline for long durations will make your brain notice and feel every little
thing, making you distracted.
So, instead of dwelling on a problem you can't solve, get your mind off it for a while.
Shift your focus.
Try whatever works for you, whether it's yoga, deep breathing, meditation, or just having
a good laugh with a friend.
The goal is to occupy yourself with a pleasant task.
This will provide the energy to regroup later.
Number 12 - You Obsess Over Your Problems
You can’t seem to get your mind off things, regardless of what it is.
Whether it’s financial worries, relationship issues or whatever.
This is a warning sign that stress is taking over your life.
With excessive worrying, your mind and body go into overdrive as you constantly focus
on "what might happen."
But, you won’t be able to find a solution until you detach yourself from your problems
and think more objectively.
You need to think about how you can stop the stress.
Set aside 15 minutes each day where you allow yourself to focus on problems and fears -- and
then vow to let them go after the 15 minutes is up.
Some people wear a rubber band on their wrist and "snap" the rubber band if they find themselves
going into their "worry mode."
Do whatever works for you!
Number 13 - Your Patience Is Wearing Thin
Finding yourself becoming less patient with everyone around you, including people you
actually care about, is often one of the first signs that stress is slowly starting to get
to you.
We often displace our anger and anxiety, taking it out on those nearby as a way of ensuring
it gets expressed in some way, and this can do far more harm than good.
If you’re snapping at people or feeling annoyed when in their company, let them know
that you are stressed and consider that you might need to ask for help coping with stress.
If any of these symptoms sound painfully familiar, it’s time to figure out exactly what is
stressing you out and how you can deal with it effectively.
Long term stress is detrimental to your mental and physical health, so it’s important to
take care of yourself.
It may be an unavoidable part of life, but there are healthy ways to manage stress and
minimize its side effects.
Examples include exercise such as walking, running, yoga or meditation; eating a healthy
diet; and whenever possible, eliminating the source of the stress.
If you wanna stress less, subscribe to our channel, and let us know in the comments below,
what stresses you out the most?!