6 Not-So-Obvious Symptoms of Stress You May Be Ignoring

You feel a constant dread looming in the air when life gets tough. That’s one of the symptoms of stress you can’t ignore.

However, the causes of distress may vary. It can be because of an unmanageable workload, relationship conflicts, financial challenges, doom scrolling, or impending stressful situations. Sometimes you can shake off the feeling by tackling the situation head-on.

In other instances, you might not be so lucky. Stress influences how you think, feel and react to different situations. It also influences bodily functions, which directly affects physical health. These changes indicate that your body wants you to slow down. Otherwise, you may burn out or slip into destructive behavioral patterns to numb the overwhelming feeling of doom and gloom.

The only trouble is that these signs are easy to overlook when you’re focusing on navigating day-to-day challenges. What are some not-so-obvious symptoms of stress? Stressful times can affect mental, physical, and emotional health. Some overlooked signs of distress include procrastination, an upset stomach, hair loss, and poor immune health. Feeling constantly on edge and mental health woes are other discreet ways stress disrupts your life.

This article sheds light on these unnoticed side-effects and shares a few mindful tips on stress management.

The Premise: What Is Stress?

The definition of stress remains ambiguous because it can mean different things to every person. The American Stress Institute (ASI) describes it as an emotional, mental or physical strain caused by distressing situations.

In medical terms, it’s a fight or flight response. The brain signals the release of a stress hormone (cortisol) when the mind feels threatened. Its presence prepares you to stay alert and tackle oncoming danger.

Being in this state perpetually can create an internal unbalance. Due to this, the symptoms of stress can sneak up on you. Medical surveys from ASI experts report that 55% of Americans feel distressed. 2 out of 3 participants in similar health surveys list post-pandemic challenges (like unemployment, financial crisis, health risks, and unsettling social situations) as the leading cause of stress.

Alternatively, minor stressors might become a reason for distress when life keeps throwing curveballs at you. Identifying these triggers and adopting stress management techniques can limit harmful consequences.

What Are Common Causes of Stress?

You may feel overwhelmed before or after a life-altering event or experience stress due to small things. The causes vary depending on how well you cope with work-related pressure, relationship issues, financial responsibilities, social changes, etc.

According to MInd, stress occurs when you are:

● Worried about an upcoming event (like exams, presentations, or new social interactions)

● Experiencing unpredictable situations

● Overwhelmed by work/familial responsibilities

● Discriminated or abused by someone

● Grieving a significant loss

In short, uncertainty, dismay, and unmanageable situations are common reasons for distress. You need to know how to overcome it to save yourself from its debilitating (and sometimes destructive symptoms).

The Checklist: What Are Some Hidden Symptoms of Stress You Shouldn’t Ignore?

Stress can trigger behavioral, psychological, and physical changes. We often discuss headaches, irregular sleep patterns, and weight gain when we discuss signs of stress. Yet, there are some changes that you may overlook. These include procrastination, hair loss, addiction, lower immune health, and withdrawal from social activities.

When stressed, instinct tells you to fight (aka prepare for the worst-case scenario) by figuring out a way to control the situation. When that seems impossible, you may choose to avoid the problem.

This way, you either overthink until you crash and burn or indulge in self-destructive habits (like procrastination and addiction). Both are unhealthy responses to challenging situations. You often are unaware of their effects on your well-being until things get out of hand.

We explain why these hidden symptoms of stress emerge by asking a series of questions below.

Why Does Stress Lead to Procrastination?

If you’re aware of a stressful event, you might want to stall the consequences. You do this through procrastination. For instance, you may put off stress-inducing tasks/plans and engage in non-essential activities to avoid an unpleasant situation.

Psychology Today calls it the “procrastination accumulation effect.” it’s when you get caught in a cycle of delaying tasks to save yourself from an unwanted change. In doing so, you shield yourself from uncomfortable or distressing consequences through mindless distractions.

However, you end up with a never-ending to-do list when you put things off in the present. It can leave you feeling more overwhelmed than before. Due to this, you lose time and have trouble staying on top of deadlines and fulfilling your responsibilities.

Consequently, the failure to follow through with commitments and plans can decrease your quality of life.

How Does Stress Cause Self-Destructive Behavior?

High stress can push you towards self-sabotaging habits. These include addiction to alcohol, substance abuse, or gambling. Alternatively, you may neglect hygiene, sleep and maintain a poor diet during testing.

Overworked employees and people in caregiving roles are inclined to slip into unhealthy routines. It can include skipping meals, binge-eating, pulling all-nighters, or missing social events to keep up with professional/familial obligations.

You may feel frustrated, depressed, and anxious if you cannot fulfill these commitments. At times, addictive habits like excessive drinking and drug abuse might become a shield against those overwhelming emotions.

You may view an unhealthy routine as the lesser of two evils than an addiction. However, both responses can have long-term effects on your wellbeing.

It’s essential to ensure that you’re taking care of yourself. Also, you’re dealing with stress through therapy and self-care rather than numbing the pain through substance abuse.

Can High Stress Make You Sick?

Chronic stress can “suppress the immune system.” Due to this, you might fall sick more often without any specific cause. Symptoms of stress include fever, cold sores, hives, muscle pain, and headaches.

According to Business Insider, your immune system doesn’t have the strength to fight off diseases. It’s because you spend all your energy combating stressful situations (or perceived threats).

Breakouts, unexplainable muscle pain, fevers, and headaches may occur when you overwork/overthink. These physical changes might be standalone signs of distress or coincide.

Most of the time, you shrug off a cold by blaming the weather or allergies. You might make excuses for muscle pain and breakouts. Yet, these are all underlying health issues that stem from stress.

Why Is Hair Loss a Symptom of Stress?

Elevated cortisol levels can reduce hair growth. When that happens, you may notice an increase in hair fall and a receding hairline.

According to Mayo Clinic, emotional stress can result in hair loss. The hormonal imbalance can cause hair follicles to weaken. That may cause more strands to fall when you wash/comb your hair.

Stress-induced hair fall might even occur because of trichotillomania. It’s an uncontrollable habit of pulling hair when you’re overwhelmed. It may go unnoticed because hair strands fall on regularly. However, excessive hair loss should be a sign of concern. That’s when medical interventions might become necessary.

How Does Stress Affect Relationships?

Anger and irritation are common symptoms of stress. These negative emotions can affect your behavior with others. In turn, this can create relationship conflicts.

Here are some ways stress can induce relationship problems:

● You postpone/cancel social activities you’re too busy

● Anger management issues lead to more arguments

● You are emotionally unavailable

● You don’t respond to messages or pick up the phone

● You may start blaming other people for your workload/mistakes

● Issues with intimacy

With time, you (or your loved ones) become isolated from each other. This might go unnoticed because the change can be gradual. You may realize the impact on your relationship dynamics when you become distant from your loved ones.

What Type of GI Issues Are a Symptom of Stress?

An upset stomach can go undetected when you’re dealing with stress. It can lead to temporary diarrhea, abdominal ache, or constipation. When overlooked, these symptoms of stress can evolve into permanent health issues. Fluctuating stress hormone levels and Stress-induced digestive issues include:

● Constipation

● Diarrhea

● Tummy ache

● Bloating

● Irritable bowel syndrome

● Poor liver health

● Inflammatory bowel disease

● Acid reflux

You can recover from gastrointestinal issues through effective stress management and mindful eating habits. Positive lifestyle changes can help you deal with stress better. It can include setting boundaries, time management, and designating a few hours (or minutes) to unwind mindfully.

Stress management tips require a careful assessment of triggers. Understand why you feel overwhelmed and make lifestyle adjustments that can lessen that strain. Some effective stress management techniques include:

● Asking for help when you feel overworked

● Saying “no” and setting boundaries to make your routine manageable

● Breathing exercises to calm your heart rate and increase focus

● Mindful activities (like board games, coloring, reading, gardening) to unwind from hectic

routines

● Spending quality time with loved ones

● Maintaining a journal to express your emotions

● 10-15 minutes of meditation and yoga in the morning

● Regulated sleep schedule (8-9 hours)

● Eating nutritious meals according to the schedule

Lastly, observe your symptoms of stress after making these lifestyle changes. If the problem persists or you feel stressed out more often, it might be best to ask a licensed healthcare professional for support. Early intervention can minimize health concerns and promote holistic wellbeing.

Letting Go of Stress

The symptoms of stress can manifest in various forms. Some of them are hidden, so we keep powering through until the problem escalates. You may feel irritable, overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or anxious when you’re in distress. With time, stress can affect your physical health as your immune system weakens. Warning signs include a higher frequency of headaches, gastrointestinal issues, colds, and hair loss. Without proper care, these problems can escalate. Therefore, you must observe signs of distress and take steps to limit risks.

Mindful lifestyle changes can prove effective in these instances. Meditation and deep breathing exercises can help you stay calm. While a conscious effort to regulate your sleep schedule, eating habits, and increase physical activity can promote wellness.

Moreover, you can shift your focus through stress relief activities to boost emotional and mental health. It can include painting, dancing, boxing, and spending quality time with loved ones.

These steps promote relaxation and give your body and mind time to recuperate. This way, you have an easier time tackling stressful situations and keeping the harmful effects of distress at bay.

So remember to keep calm and live mindfully!