Stress is essentially unavoidable in today’s society. No matter how comfortable your job is or how much money you have, we all have things that cause a great deal of stress. While a lot of people see stress as something that can motivate us and push us forward, it’s also something that can really hinder any progress that you’ve made. In fact, a lot of people hit dangerously high levels of stress–and they don’t even realize it.
There are a couple of red signs that you should really look out for when it comes to stress. Avoiding these could potentially ruin your health, and it may be negatively affecting you in more ways than you’d imagine.
One of the telltale signs that your stress levels are too high is disturbances in your sleep. If you feel like you’re never getting a good night’s rest or that you’re starting to wake up a lot at night, then it’s highly possible that your stress levels are getting too high. This is usually caused by having lots of different thoughts (often negative ones) that keep racing through your mind. This can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep, and it usually won’t be solved until you deal with whatever is causing your stress.
Everyone has different kinds of coping mechanisms. Some people turn to alcohol, others play video games excessively, and some might even sleep for long periods of time. Whatever your coping mechanisms are, relying on them too much may be a sign that your stress levels are getting too high. This may require rehab or professional intervention in order to overcome, and you’ll have to find ways to lower your stress levels so that your use of those unhealthy coping mechanisms doesn’t become too common.
If you feel like you’re facing really big mood swings on a regular basis then it could be caused by high stress levels. You might feel really upset at something one moment, and then furious at the same thing a few minutes later. Or you could be feeling much higher levels of sadness. These swings are often caused by high levels of stress, and it can lead to you becoming easily irritated which may negatively affect your relationships.
Lastly, if you’re facing physical health problems due to stress, then it’s highly likely that your stress levels are simply too high. It’s a good idea to look after your health and wellbeing by identifying these physical health issues. It could be headaches, cardiovascular problems, or even a weakened immune system. If the health effects are seemingly random and unexplainable, then it could be linked to your high stress levels.