Chronic stress — stress that occurs consistently over a long period of time — can have a negative impact on a person's immune system and physical health. If you are constantly under stress, you may experience physical symptoms such as chest pain, headaches, an upset stomach, trouble sleeping or high blood pressure.
Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help you manage them. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
If your stress is causing serious health problems, such as high blood pressure, you may need to take medication or further tests. Mental health issues, including stress, anxiety and depression, are the reason for 1 in 5 visits to a GP.
However, if you and your doctors can't pinpoint a physical reason for your lack of energy, it's time to check your mental health. Stress is one of the main causes of chronic fatigue, and it can leave you feeling depleted no matter how much sleep or rest you get.
Stress, worry, or anxiety may cause other kinds of dizziness. It might feel more like lightheadedness than spinning. One form of this is chronic subjective dizziness — a vague feeling of imbalance. It happens more often in people with anxiety and in places where your senses have to take in a lot of information.
Other than physical illnesses, stress can also give rise to psychological illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and panic, which are all valid medical concerns. Especially if the depression, anxiety, or panic attack is accompanied by suicidal thoughts, it is automatically considered as a medical emergency.
Stress is one of the “usual suspects” when you can't seem to stop thinking. Stress causes your body to release cortisol, and cortisol helps you stay alert. This means that your brain stays alert, too — even when you don't want it to.
Tension headaches are common for people that struggle with severe anxiety or anxiety disorders. Tension headaches can be described as severe pressure, a heavy head, migraine, head pressure, or feeling like there is a tight band wrapped around their head.
Muscle twitching is a common symptom of anxiety. Those with chronic and severe anxiety may experience muscle twitching more often. Causes of muscle twitching vary, from adrenaline to vitamin loss, and more. The twitching itself is not dangerous, but is a sign that anxiety needs to be treated.
Dizziness and feeling faint can accompany low blood pressure that develops from any cause. Excessive crying can be a sign of depression, which can produce physical as well as emotional symptoms. Pay attention to your symptoms and what brings them on or relieves them.
What causes mental fatigue? Mental fatigue is complex and usually isn't caused by one thing. Contributing factors can be physical— like poor nutrition, lack of sleep, or hormonal imbalances — or cognitive — you've been asking your brain to do too much.
On average, adults with lower reported stress levels report sleeping more hours a night than do adults with higher reported stress levels (7.1 vs. 6.2 hours).
If so, you may have a type of anxiety disorder called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD can make daily life feel like a constant state of worry, fear, and dread. The good news is GAD is treatable. Learn more about the symptoms of GAD and how to find help.
What age is stress most common? According to the American Psychological Association (APA), people in the 18-33 age group suffer the highest levels of stress in the U.S.