Signs of Stress
Signs of stress may be emotional, thought-related, or physical in nature. These may include:
Emotional signs:
Chronic irritability or resentment
Feeling down in the dumps, demoralized
Continual boredom
Excessive nervousness or anxiety
Feeling overwhelmed
Nightmares
Thought-related signs:
Worrying every day
Distractibility
Always expecting the worst to happen
Difficulty making every-day decisions
Physical signs:
Clammy hands or sweting
Constipation/diarrhea
Dry mouth
Headache
Heart palpitations
Stomachaches, "knots", cramps, or nausea
Muscle spasms or tightness
Lump in throat
Feeling of faintness
Fatigue/weariness
Sleeping too much / too little
Shallow breathing
Note: It is important to note that some of the signs of stress may match the symptoms of a disabling or chronic illness such as spastic or tight muscles and fatigue.
Adapted from: Taming Stress in Multiple Sclerosis. National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1998.