Unusual Signs of Stress
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Ongoing stress can cause problems with our mental and physical health. It can disrupt sleep and lead to anxiety, but stress can manifest in many ways throughout the body.
Here are five unusual signs of stress:
Physical pain
When you are stressed, your muscles can tense. This could be in your back, head, neck, shoulders or jaw, but muscle tension and soreness can occur throughout your body when you have intense or ongoing stress. Headaches can be another way your body expresses pain from stress.
Muscle tension is your body’s way of preparing you to deal with stressful or even dangerous situations and, ironically, prevent injury and pain, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). While this is a healthy and normal response, your muscles don’t get the chance to relax if your stress is ongoing. Over time, this can lead to regular muscle pain or flare ups of fibromyalgia, arthritis and jaw pain, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Experiencing pain can in turn cause more mental stress, so managing it through exercise, stretching and relaxation techniques can help.
Worsening skin conditions
Flare ups of eczema, rosacea or psoriasis are all linked to stress, according to WebMD. Stress doesn’t cause these conditions, but it can worsen them and make skin feel itchier because of increased stress hormones in the body.
Some people can experience a breakout of the red, itchy welts while stressed, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Excess hair shedding can be another physical symptom of stress. This can last for a few months or be ongoing, according to the AAD.
Respiratory problems
Intense stress can cause shortness of breath and rapid breathing as your body gets ready to manage a potential threat, according to the APA. Most people will still be able to breathe despite the feeling of shortness of breath, but it can be more difficult for people with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Airway constriction can cause asthma or panic attacks, especially in people who have asthma or deal with anxiety.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus, the name for ringing, whistling in buzzing in the ears, is a condition tens of millions of Americans deal with. Experiencing stress can make the symptoms worse or the ringing seem louder, according to a study. While the connection between stress and ringing in the ears isn’t entirely clear, the tinnitus could be an alarm signal.
Lack of motivation
If you’re struggling to get started on a project or staying focused on a task, this could be because of stress. Your body is trying to keep you safe from a real or perceived threat, causing you to instinctively preserve your energy or focus on the threat. Even if you know you are safe, it can be difficult if the stressor is still present. Acknowledging the lack of motivation and being aware of the causes of stress can help you break down your tasks into smaller chunks and get started.
Managing stress
You can work on managing stress in many ways, including:
- Meditation and mindfulness
- Breathwork
- Sleep and rest
- Exercise
- A healthy diet
- Therapy
While stress is a normal part of life, talk to your primary care provider about worsening or ongoing signs of stress. Chronic stress can also lead to digestive problems, a weakened immune system, increased risk of heart disease, weight gain and stroke, so managing it is important for long-term health.
Image: Getty Images
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