6 Common Signs of Stress (and Potential Causes)

Stress impacts all of us. You might notice signs of stress when handling your finances, when coping with a tough relationship while disciplining your children, or during busy periods at work. Stress is all around us. Even though a bit of stress is fine, too much can make you sick and wear you down both physically and mentally. 

Stress can impact your body, feelings, thoughts, and behavior. Here are some of the most common signs of stress:

• Headaches 

• Chest pain 

• Aches and pains

• Difficulty sleeping or exhaustion 

• Dizziness or headaches

• Jaw clenching or muscle tension 

• Increased or decreased appetite

• Digestion issues

• Reduced immunity

• Irritability 

• Panic attacks

• Sadness

• Depression

• Lack of focus or motivation 

In this article, we look closely at what stress is, its signs, and its potential causes. 

Here's everything you need to know:

The Premise: What Is Stress?

Stress is your body's reaction to a harmful situation – whether they are perceived or actual. When you sense danger, a chemical reaction takes place in your body that enables you to act in a particular way to keep yourself safe. This reaction is called the "fight-or-flight” or the stress response. During the stress response, your breathing quickens, blood pressure increases, heart rate rises, and muscles tighten. 

Stress has different meanings for different individuals. What causes stress in a particular person might be of little concern to another. Certain people are better able to manage stress than others. Moreover, not all stress is harmful. A small dose of stress allows you to accomplish tasks and prevents you from getting hurt. For instance, stress makes you hit the brakes to avoid crashing into the car in front of you. 

Our bodies are well-equipped to manage small bouts of stress. However, we cannot handle long-term chronic stress without any adverse consequences. 

What Are the Signs of Stress?

Stress can manifest itself in several different ways. Some people experience physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, tense muscles, chest pain, frequent infections, nervousness, etc. On the other hand, some people experience cognitive symptoms of stress such as poor judgment, constant worrying, disorganization, forgetfulness, an inability to focus, etc. 

Lastly, some individuals experience behavioral symptoms including procrastination, changes in appetite, and increased use of drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol. Here is an in-depth insight into the signs of stress. 

1. Insomnia and Fatigue 

Stressful events and times can cause temporary insomnia. And long-lasting or major stress can lead to chronic insomnia. This lack of sleep can lead to fatigue, which might reduce energy levels.  

For instance, recent research published in BMC Psychiatry of over 7,000 working adults found that fatigue was strongly associated with work-related stress. Another study by the Sleep Research Society of more than 2,000 participants revealed that stress was associated with a higher risk of insomnia. 

While it's clear that stress can disrupt sleep, not everyone who undergoes stress or a stressful phase will deal with sleep disturbances or insomnia. 

2. Changes in Sex Drive

Several individuals experience changes in their libido during stressful times. Stress can increase the production of cortisol in our body which can suppress our sex hormones, resulting in lower libido.

One study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine assessed the stress levels of 30 women and then evaluated their sexual arousal while viewing an erotic movie. Women with high levels of chronic stress experienced lower sexual arousal than those with reduced stress levels. 

Similarly, research published in Frontiers in Endocrinology in 2021 on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s reproductive health revealed that 45% of the participants reported a lower libido because of stress. 

Besides stress, there are several other possible reasons for changes in sex drive, such as:

• Psychological issues

• Fatigue 

• Hormonal changes 

3. Depression 

Certain studies suggest that chronic stress might be linked with depressive episodes and depression. 

A study from the Depression and Anxiety Journal of over 800 women with major depression revealed that the onset of depression had a positive correlation with both chronic and acute stress. 

Additionally, a 2018 review from IBRO Reports highlighted the link between the experience of inescapable or chronic stress and depression. 

Apart from stress, some possible causes of depression entail:

• Environmental factors

• Age 

• Family history

• Certain illnesses and medications 

4. Acne 

Higher levels of stress are linked with increased acne breakouts. One possible reason for this might be that when certain people feel stressed, they tend to touch their faces more frequently. This can lead to the spread of bacteria and result in acne. 

Many studies have even confirmed that acne breakouts might be associated with higher degrees of stress. For example, a study conducted by the JAMA Network evaluated the severity of acne in 22 college students prior to and during an examination. During exam periods, when stress levels increased, the students' acne worsened. 

5. Headaches

Another common sign of stress is headaches – a condition characterized by pain in the face, neck, or head region. 

Research by Cephalalgia: An International Journal of Headache published in 2015 revealed that higher intensity of stress was linked with an increase in headaches experienced every month. 

Another research published in the Headache Journal surveyed 172 members of military service at a headache clinic. It found that 67 percent of the respondents stated their headaches were caused by stress, making it the second most common headache trigger. 

6. Chronic Pains and Ache

Chronic pains and aches are common complaints that can result from increased stress levels. Certain studies have found that chronic pain might be associated with higher stress levels along with increased levels of cortisol, which is the body’s primary stress hormone. 

A very small study published in Brain: A Journal of Neurology compared individuals with chronic back pain to a control group. It found that participants with chronic pain had increased levels of cortisol. 

What Are the Types of Stress?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are two kinds of stress – chronic and acute. Acute stress is short-term and generally the more common type of stress. On the other hand, chronic stress develops over a long period and is more dangerous. 

Here are some more details on acute and chronic stress. 

What Is Acute Stress?

Acute stress usually develops when individuals feel overwhelmed by incidents that have happened recently or face forthcoming challenges. For instance, a person might feel stressed regarding a strict deadline or an argument. This kind of stress will disappear or reduce once the person meets the deadline or resolves the argument. 

Acute stressors are generally new and often have an immediate and clear solution or answer. Even with the more demanding challenges that individuals face, there are several ways to overcome the situation. 

Acute stress doesn’t lead to the same level of harm as chronic stress. Some short-term impacts of acute stress include an upset stomach and headaches, along with a moderate level of distress. 

Nevertheless, repeated occurrences of acute stress over a lengthy period can be harmful and chronic.

What Is Chronic Stress?

A toxic relationship, ongoing poverty, dysfunctional family are instances of situations that can lead to chronic stress. It happens when an individual doesn’t see any way to remove their stressors and ceases to search for solutions. A disturbing event in childhood might also lead to chronic stress. 

This kind of stress can make it tough for your body to go back to a usual level of stress hormone activity leading to issues in these systems:

• Immune 

• Cardiovascular

• Sleep

• Reproductive

• Respiratory 

A continuous feeling of stress can increase an individual's risk of increased blood pressure and heart disease. Chronic stress can even lead to anxiety, depression, along with other mental health conditions such as PTSD. 

This type of stress can go on unchecked as individuals can become accustomed to feeling hopeless and agitated. It can even become integrated into a person's personality, making them more vulnerable to the impacts of stress irrespective of their situations. 

People who experience chronic stress can experience a major breakdown that can result in violent behaviors, heart attack, stroke, or suicide. 

What Are the Potential Causes of Stress?

People respond differently to taxing and stressful events. What might be stressful for a particular individual might not be nerve-racking for another, and nearly any event can possibly cause stress. For certain people, simply thinking of a trigger or multiple small triggers can lead to stress. 

There's no well-known reason why one individual might feel less stressed than another when dealing with the same stressful situation. Mental health conditions like depression or an increasing sense of anxiety, frustration, and injustice can make certain individuals feel stressed more quickly than others. 

1. Financial Troubles

As per the American Psychological Association (APA), finances are the top cause of stress in the US. In a survey done in 2015, the APA reported that over 70 percent of Americans stressed over money. Most respondents reported finances being a major source of stress, with nearly 80 percent feeling considerable anxiety regarding finances. 

Signs of financial stress might include:

• Being scared to answer calls or open mail 

• Feeling anxious and worrying regarding money 

• Feeling guilt about spending money on non-essential items

• Having disagreements with loved ones over finances 

In the long-term, financial stress can lead to headaches, increased blood pressure, chest pain, insomnia, upset stomach, and a general feeling of sickness. Financial stress has even been associated with various health issues such as anxiety, depression, arthritis, skin problems, and diabetes. 

How to Avoid Financial Stress?

The best way to avoid financial stress is to create a budget that suits your monthly income. Then use a spending tracker to track your progress. You will learn about your spending habits and discover new ways to lower your spending. These insights can allow you to make meaningful and valuable changes. 

2. Work 

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 40 percent of Americans find their jobs stressful, and 26 percent report they often feel burned out due to their work. 

Whether you're worried about a particular project or feel discriminated against, putting your work ahead of everything else can impact several aspects of your life, including personal relationships and physical and mental health. 

Factors outside of work can also impact work stress, including your personal life, general health, psychological makeup, and the amount of emotional support you have outside of work. 

Job stress can prompt you to have:

• Disinterest 

• Reduced creativity and initiative 

• A decline in work performance 

• Isolation 

• More sick days 

• Issues with personal relationships 

• Higher levels of frustration and lower levels of patience 

How to Avoid Work-Related Stress?

A great way to avoid work-related stress is to stay organized. Being organized with your time means less rushing to avoid being late in the morning as well as less hustling to get out at the end of the day. Staying organized can even mean avoiding the harmful effects of clutter and being more efficient with your work. 

3. Personal Relationships

The people in our lives can also make us feel stressed. It could be a co-worker, friend, an intimate partner, or a family member. Toxic people are there in all parts of our lives, and the stress we feel from such relationships can impact mental and physical health. 

Common relationship stressors include:

• Being too occupied to spend time with one another 

• Sex and intimacy become rare due to health problems, business, etc. 

• Abusive relationships

• Lack of communication between you and your partner

How to Avoid Relationship Stress?

One of the best ways to deal with relationship stress is to talk things out. Talk to your partner and listen as much as you speak. You'll be surprised to see how much you learn about your partner and how quickly you can work towards a solution together. 

Wrapping Up 

You can experience stress in different ways, such as headaches, insomnia, chronic pains, acne, frequent illness, reduced sex drive, etc. It can be because of finances, work, personal relationships, and several other reasons. 

You can relieve and manage your stress using simple strategies such as mindfulness, communicating with your partner, or taking time off work. However, if you feel overwhelmed, you should speak to your doctor.