In principle, stress can be a useful warning sign that something is wrong in our lives and that we need to take action to fix it. In practice, that only holds true if we both listen to what our bodies are telling us and commit to taking action to deal with it. Otherwise, we run the risk of letting stress reach a point where it can be seriously damaging to our health.
Common signs of stress
Common signs of stress include fatigue and/or being unable to sleep, nervous habits such as teeth grinding (and nail-biting), tension headaches, irritability/excessive sensitivity/feelings of panic, loss of libido, needing to be alone, craving for comfort food and a tendency to fall sick easily. That’s a long list and the symptoms are fairly diverse. What’s more, while these are all common symptoms of stress, they can also be symptoms of other issues.
Keep a health journal
Do your best to keep at least basic notes of what you do each day and at what point you notice any of the above symptoms. In particular, try to remember what happened immediately before the symptoms started.
If you were in a situation where other people were present, try to remember who they were. There are three reasons for this. The first is general completeness, the second is that these people might be able to help fill in any blanks in your memory and the third is that if you are suffering from stress, one of those people might actually be your stress trigger. Record as much detail as you can, including any thoughts you were having at the time. You can work out what’s relevant later.
Try altering your habits
If your health journal doesn’t provide any clues as to what’s causing your symptoms then try taking them at face value and treating them in the usual way to see where that gets you. Keep your health journal during this process so you can track your progress or lack thereof.
For example, if your energy levels are low, then have a look at your diet. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try adjusting your evening routine to promote sleep. Remember that getting yourself in the right place for a good night’s sleep often starts much earlier in the evening, generally around dinner time. You want to eat early enough that you’ve digested your meal properly before you go to bed (but late enough that you feel full all night). Watching your caffeine consumption is obvious, but you also want to watch your alcohol consumption.
See if your sleeping area needs to be adjusted to make it more comfortable for you. For example, when was the last time you turned your mattress? In fact, do you need a new mattress? Are you too hot or cold? Remember, even if you’re sharing a bed with someone, there are ways to maintain different temperatures on different sides of the bed. Do you need the room to be quieter or darker?
If symptoms still persist, see a doctor
By this point, if you’re still experiencing symptoms and you can’t work out what’s causing them, or you can work out what’s causing them, but feel you need help to address them, then you should make it a priority to go and see a doctor.
Depending on the situation, you may also need to speak to your manager and/or HR. Remember that employers have a duty of care towards their employees and that includes taking care of their mental health. This means that if there is an issue at work which is causing or contributing to your stress, your employer almost certainly needs to deal with it. Even if your stress is not (directly) work-related, your employer still has to make reasonable accommodation for your needs.
