We all have a certain degree of stress in our lives at any given time. Some of us stress over rather simple mindless things such as what to cook for dinner while others stress over major life decisions like when to leave your full time job and become self employed. Yes, stress comes in all shapes, sizes and forms. But how do we know if you have too much stress in our life?
Stress is something that can definitely be managed. There are many tips, tools and tricks available to help you get through and over stress but at what point do we realize that we actually need help? What's considered a normal amount of stress and when has stress taken over our lives (yet we think we have control over it and pretend to function normally).
1. Trouble falling asleep.
Though this may seem almost common sense, it's not. Many people will blame this on something they ate, or they aren't tired enough, or perhaps it was that coffee at 8 pm. It very well could be a combination of any of these things, or other things, but the truth of the matter is, if this is a nightly problem, your stress level is too high. Plain and simple.
2. Snapping for nothing.
Are you finding, lately, that you are starting to snap back at people all the time, and it's usually for nothing really. Just the sound of their voice or their opinions is now grinding on your last nerve, where it never did before, and you are snapping at them. This behaviour is actually surprising you too. This is stress. It's taking its toll and playing a huge role in your mood swings. Which leads us to number 3.
3. Mood swings are out of control.
You're happy, sad, angry, crying, laughing, snapping and quiet, all in the matter of one day. Stress has finally got the better of you. Oftentimes when we think we have it all under control, it will show up in our emotions or our moods. You aren't experiencing all of these mood swings just because the moon is full. If this is a daily and common occurrence, then the bigger picture says it's your stress.
4. Trying to control everything.
As stress takes over and clouds our focus and our lives, we try to control the things around us. That could be people, things, even your pet cat. We have no control over the things going on in our life and we can start to feel all our situations and dilemmas spiralling out of control. As we lose control of ourselves, we desperately grasp other things to control, and that always ends up being the things around us, especially people.
5. Physically ill.
You are calling in to work sick more often. Headaches and stomach troubles occur more frequently. Chest pains, low energy and other forms of physical illness seem to happen more and more, come from nowhere and appear to be totally unexplainable. Stress will take its form physically as well. As we lose control of our thoughts and our behaviour towards certain things that are happening in our lives, we suddenly become ill. All the pent up negativity and stress inside of you will come out as some sort of sickness.
Stress is not a fun thing to have to deal with and shouldn't be taken lightly. Many people who have too much stress can be victims of high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks and much more. When you start to feel that stress is taking over your life and you have any of these warning signs or others, it's time to have a serious look at your life and see where some action needs to take place. your life is a precious gift and should be treated as such. Take care of you and get that stress under control, or better yet, tossed right out the window.