When you are exposed to long periods of stress, your body gives you warning signals that something is wrong.

These physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral warning signs should not be ignored. Often thee signs are subtle but when they are consistent they are telling you that you need to slow down.

If you continue to experience chronic stress overload and you don’t give your body and mind a break, you are likely to develop health problems like heart disease, auto-immune diseases or adrenal fatigue.

One of the important factors about stress overload is your own personal perception of stress. There is no definitive guide of what makes a situation or event stressful, that is for everyone to define for themselves.  One persons stress overload is another persons competitive driver.

Not all stress is bad, in fact a little stress is good for is, it makes things exciting, gives us a buzz, allows us to feel desire, drive and competitiveness.  We all go through stressful periods in life, thats a given.  But when our lives feel out of balance , when we become aware of how much stress we continue to experience that is when we start to feel overloaded.

When you become aware that the stress in your life is beginning to overload your whole life it is time to take action.

Below are some common warning signs and symptoms of stress overload.

Physical Signs of Stress Overload

• General Aches & Pains
• Grinding Teeth
• Headaches
• Indigestion
• IBS
• Kidney infections
• Racing Heart
• Hyperventilation (panic attacks)
• Disrupted Sleep
• Excessive Sweating
• Repeated fungal infections
• Feeling Tired & Worn Out
• Weight Gain around the middle

Cognitive Signs of Stress Overload

• Difficulty making decisions
• Forgetfulness
• Poor concentration
• Lack of creativity
• Loss of sense of humor
• Poor memory
• Anxiety
• Depression

Emotional Signs of Stress Overload

• Unprovoked anger
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Heightened nervousness
• Feeling blue
• Crying for no real reason

Behavioural Signs of Stress Overload

• Compulsive eating
• Increased drinking or drug taking
• Aggressiveness
• Frequent disagreements or arguments
• Missing deadlines
• Withdrawal from relationships or social situations

After you’ve identified the causes of the stress overload in your life, the next step is to learn techniques that can help you cope with the stressors.

There are many techniques and resources  you can use to help you to manage stress. Some of which you can learn yourself, while other techniques may require the guidance of a trained therapist.

The first step is to listen to your own body, be aware of the signs of stress overload and be honest with yourself.

If you are concerned about the impact that stress overload may be having on your health and wellbeing then we can help.  Contact Us Now to set up a call to discuss exactly how we can help you to regain control.