EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
In earlier posts, I have written about physical and mental symptoms of stress. Experiencing stress may also trigger a number of emotional responses including anxiety, irritability, emotional hyper-vigilance, feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope, and low self-esteem and self-worth.
Three major symptoms of stress and the anxiety it can trigger are shame, anger and depression. If you feel overwhelmed by the stressors in your life, it is easy to blame yourself. If your anxiety symptoms have affected other people’s lives, it may cause you embarrassment, guilt or shame. Some people will compare themselves to others who seem to be handling their lives so much better. The shame of not handling life better can freeze a person in their tracks and keep their minds racing well into the night.
Sometimes trying to escape from anxiety or stress overflows into negative behaviors which can affect others. Being impatient, argumentative or angry to a family member, friend or co-worker may be a way of rebelling against the underlying anxiety. The inability to control your temper, lashing out at other people or just being so prickly people are avoiding you are signals that you are not handling in a healthy manner the stressors that cause your. anxiety. If you are overreacting to situations because of the stressors in your life, this irritability is often an indication of underlying anxiety.
When anger is turned inward you may become self-critical and depressed. those with depression often feel hopeless, have little interest or pleasure in doing things, move or speak slowly so that other people have noticed and commented on it, are physically restless or have thoughts of hurting themselves or feeling the would be better off dead. If you are feeling depressed, get help. Call your medical doctor of mental health professional. There is help and if these symptoms describe you, get the help you need.
Learn more about stress and anxiety and get the tools you need to deal with the symptoms affecting your life. Go to Amazon.com and type Jennifer Johnson and THE ANXIETY TOOLBOX available in eBook, paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.