July 2018

Left unchecked, stress can affect our emotional and physical wellbeing. However, we’re not always aware when we’re stressed. It can creep up on us slowly, or we may not recognise the physical or emotional signs. To help you understand when stress may be affecting your life, we’ve prepared a list of some of the signs. So, if you need to, you can make changes to your life and get the help you need.

Here are some physical signs of stress:• Constant fatigue

• Backache

• Persistently raised pulse or blood pressure

• Flushing or sweating

• Headaches, including migraines

• Sleep problems

• Muscle tension, aches or stiffness (especially the neck and shoulders)

• Skin problems (hives, eczema, psoriasis, itching)

• Constant colds, minor ailments or infections

• Dizziness, disturbed vision

• Heart palpitations

• Chest pains

• Asthma or shortness of breath

• Dizziness

• Numbness in your hands or feet

• Digestive problems (upset or acid stomach, abdominal cramps, heartburn, wind, irritable bowel syndrome)

• Nausea

• Constipation, diarrhoea

• Trembling

• Excessive sweating, cold/sweaty hands or feet

• Hair loss

At a glance• Stress can affect our emotional

and physical wellbeing; however we don’t always recognise the symptoms.

• Physical signs of stress include tiredness, skin and sleep problems, headaches, nausea, dizziness, constant colds and more.

• Emotional signs of stress include anxiety, irritability, anger, depression, mood swings, difficulty concentrating and more.

Recognising the Signs of Stress

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• Dry mouth

• Jaw pain

• Grinding your teeth at night

Here are some emotional signs of stress:• Increased anxiety

• Irritability

• Anger

• Suspiciousness or defensiveness, sensitivity to criticism

• Mood swings

• Feeling tearful or over-emotional

• Depression

• Difficulty concentrating

• Your mind racing or going blank

Look for the signs and get the help you needIt’s important to remember that while these lists show some of the most common signs of stress, they’re not comprehensive. Stress may affect you in a different way. Also, the symptoms listed may be also caused by something other than stress. So if you’re worried, speak to your doctor.

If, after reading this fact sheet, you believe that you are suffering from stress, take action to deal with it. Try to identify what may be causing it and find a way to resolve the issue or make changes to eliminate it. It may help to discuss your feelings with a counsellor, or speak to a doctor about your physical symptoms. Many people find that knowledge empowers them to take the steps they need to remove stress from their life and move on.

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Learn more.Visit livewell.optum.com now for more on this subject and other useful articles. At livewell.optum.com, you will also find resources to help you manage stress and deal with workplace issues, in addition to advice and support to improve health and well-being. Livewell is designed to provide users with information and support to help navigate many of life’s milestones.

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