6 Weird Signs You Might Be Stressed

Today, stress is probably the most talked about health issue. In small amounts, stress may not be harmful because it is a reaction that the body generates against any kind of challenging situation, positive or negative, physical or mental. When it is good stress or eustress, it can propel a person to perform better by channelizing his or her energy through focussed concentration and increasingthe alertness to fight back (1). But when distress happens, the body is continuously subjected to situational abuse. The body and mind are repeatedly put under pressure to perform and it has both short and long-term impacts on the body. It is detrimental to the nervous system and general physiology of the human anatomy. And, as we all know, it is becoming increasingly difficult to cope with the anxieties that the modern life has bestowed on us, whether it is money, housing, relationships, lifestyle, and what not!

So, how do we ascertain the negative effects of stress? How does chronic stress manifest? When should we stop and take notice of the signs that our body sends out to us? Let us examine a few ways by which our body sends out stress signals to us.

1. Vomiting

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Physical symptoms of stress can vary greatly.  Various digestive complaints like constipation, acidity, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and nausea can occur due to chronic stress or a single instance of severe anxiety.  Any kind of nervousness or unease can set off a stress reaction or response unique to the constitution of that body.

Sometimes, stress response alters the digestive system and suppresses it because energy and alertness are required to deal with the challenge/work at hand. But, if the stress is too enormous or too frequent, the body is not able to bounce back to optimum functioning. This takes a toll on the normal digestive activity. It can lead to problems like persistent dry heaving, nausea, multiple episodes of vomiting or even Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome (2), (3).

There can be many remedial measures, including self-care practices (maintaining calm, deep breathing, simple exercises), therapy, and medicine that can address this issue and keep it from aggravating (4).

2. Hair Loss

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Unless stress levels are very high, it is unlikely that there will be noticeable hair loss. But these two conditions can affect each other if the anxiety issues become chronic and long-standing.

There are three ways in which stress causes hair loss. Firstly, the condition of Alopecia Areata, where large amounts of hair come out of your scalp unexpectedly. Secondly, Telogen Effluvium, in which the amount of hair fall increases more than usual, almost up to a staggering 70%, and thirdly, Trichotillomania, which causes a person to pull out his or her own hair in distress (5), (6), (7).

In Telogen effluvium, the body causes hair to stop growing at the same pace it usually does. It can be difficult to detect it because the body ‘commands’ hair to grow lesser, and it is obvious only once the existing crop of hair sheds. So, it can take even a few months after the actual episode of such stress to be apparent. It is often seen after traumatic experiences like delivery, loss of a loved one, job loss, etc.

The treatments include self-management, proper diet, supplements, therapies, and lifestyle changes.

3. Nosebleeds

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Nosebleeds occur due to severe anxiety, along with a spike in blood pressure when some other physical factor is also at play. These could be temperature variations, a sudden change in surroundings, or unpleasant occurrences like mishaps or brutality, etc., resulting into stress triggers. These can cause blood pressure to rise. If the nasal membranes have been too dry because of other reasons, the veins and capillaries tear and bleed (8). Increased blood pressure can cause the bleeding to aggravate.

Staying calm and detaching yourself from anxiety triggers can be of immense help during such episodes of nosebleeding. Controlled breathing, regular workouts, and herbal non-caffeinated beverages are also effective in relieving stress.

4. Memory loss

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Though it is usual to experience memory loss and blurring, it can be very upsetting too. Most of the time people are unaware of this problem, and smallest details or things that escape their minds and attention can cause them to get irritated.

Memory loss is essentially a major side effect of stress and anxiety, which manifests differently in everyone. It is more pronounced in people who are acutely stressed out. It is due to excessive release of the hormone cortisol (9).

Studieshave found cortisol to be toxic towards brain activity, thus giving rise to memory loss (10). In fact, it is associated with other grave problems like depression, reduced learning abilities, weight issues, and what not! So, greater the stress, more amount of cortisol is generated, and hence, more the memory problems.

Professional intervention, healthy lifestyle, and relaxation techniques can alleviate the symptoms.

5. Weakened Immunity

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When the body is fighting against stress triggers like fear or panic, HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) i.e., the part of the brain that deals with facing immediate danger, gets going (11). Apart from the cortisol mentioned above, it also releases chemical transmitters named catecholamines. This steroid hormone lowers the general capacity of the normal immune system by temporarily sending the body’s fighter molecules to fight the immediate danger. But, if the distress is acute and long-standing, the other parts of the body deprived of these fighter molecules start to show signs of weakness and vulnerability towards infections. The time of recovery from illnesses also increase.

Taking a break from the stressful situation, and regulating your schedule to incorporate exercises that promote healing and immunity-boosting food items can be a good way to address this issue.

6. Excessive Sweating

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We all like to be composed when faced with anxiety, but one of the most prominent features in our body that gives it all away is sweating.

Normally, the sweat we experience due to intense heat or exercise is secreted by the Eccrine glands.

However, the sweat produced in response to a stressful situation is from Apocrine glands. It produces a thicker, sweeter sweat that has more odor as well as facilitates the growth of bacteria. It is more pronounced in the regions having more hair like genitals or armpits. And such stress can come from any situation, whether at home or work. Interestingly, such sweat may send out signals that other people around may also sense.

Organic cotton clothes, intake of certain foods, practicing meditation, and maintaining composure can control sweating to an extent.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, your stress levels might be high. Consulting a doctor and doing things that relax your body and mind would be a really good idea. Remember, health comes first.

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