How can you tell if you are stressed out? One of the most overused phrases in our society now is, “stressed out.” The doctor asks about stress. Work wants to address stress. Being stressed out is part of the American culture now.

Quite frankly, how can I know? It seems like the phrase “stressed out” has become similar to the word “love”. You can love just about anything, ice cream, the color blue, and even your hair. The word has so many different uses and sadly, the one use love was intended for is underused.

What Is Stress?

I recently went to see my Doctor because my neck was really bothering me. She asked if I had new pillows, “no.” The conversation continued with questions about activities, exercise, and many other things. There was nothing I could put my finger on.

Then she asked about what was going on in my life. I told her we were in the middle of kitchen renovations and a lot of chaos at my house. You know, even though it is just my husband and me, the chaos is there.

I thought I was handling it all so well. Trying to cook around the mess. Not looking too closely as I walked by the kitchen. Buying a few rotisserie chickens and even using paper plates sometimes. I really hate paper plates.

Even though I did not think the reno was bothering me, it was, and it was sinking deep into my neck muscles. I had not an idea that I was holding stress in my neck. I really did not know if I was stressed out. Maybe I was ignoring the symptoms.

Stress is a feeling or emotion that causes tension, either physical or emotional. It can come from something real or thoughts we may harbor.

Stress can be short term or last forever. How our body reacts to stress is an important thing to learn.

For example, my neck pain, I have had it before. It is a nagging tightness that starts at the base of my skull. The pain usually involves my neck muscles too. Eventually, the tightness will climb right over the top of my forehead and become a migraine.

Some Physical Symptoms Of Stress

Here are some real signs of stress in your life.

For instance, my neck pain. So, if we continue to ignore the initial physical problem, eventually it can become something worse. Now, almost everyone has some stress in their life. You go out to leave for work, there is a flat tire. A lovely wedding invitation comes in the mail, actually 3 of them all on the same day.

When Stress Is Not A Bad Thing?

Never the less, stress is not always a problem. The truth is sometimes we need a little stress in our lives. Some types of stress can make us work harder and longer.

Likewise, we need stress to motivates us into action. Stressful situations that we feel like we can do something about are the best motivators. For instance, it’s April the 1st. Guess what happens on April the 15th, tax day. So, if you have not already filed your income tax, a little stress may motivate you into action.

What Does Too Much Stress Look Like?

Stress does affect the heart. Some of the ways stress affects the heart:

• High Blood Pressure Skipping Heart Beats
• High Cholesterol Frequently Ill
• Inability to manage life

You see, you must recognize the symptoms. Being able to tell if you are stressed out is the way to protect yourself. Too much stress affects the heart. The list above tells us, stress affects the heart. The heart does not like to beat any faster than necessary. Extra pressure on the heart affects our bodies. When chronic stress makes the heart work harder it puts too much pressure on the cardiac muscle.

The leader in cardiac care, Cleveland Clinic says,

Unmanaged stress, especially stress-related anger and hostility, can affect your health. 

Cleveland Clinic Stress and Heart Disease

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Learn Your Body

Knowing the difference between good stress or bad stress is really important. Even more important is knowing some healthy ways to respond to stress. Learning how to tell if you are stressed out it is necessary.

For instance, if your problem is about income tax, you can take care of that. But if your problem is something you can not control, then other practices will have to be taken.

Healthy Ways To Reduce Stress

Unhealthy Ways To Reduce Stress

So, did you know that you are stressed out? Have you experienced some of these symptoms and did not know that stress was causing it? I have and did not even know what it was.

My neck pain really was a result of stress. I just did not realize it. But after thinking about it, the chaos in the house was making me feel stressed out. Clutter and chaos can make you feel stressed. Figure out what is causing your stress. Choose a responsible way to handle it and take action. Don’t let it just ruin your day.

Choose to be healthy and don’t let the hidden stressors in our lives send us to anxiety.