Behaviors and Emotions That Are Signs of Excessive Stress

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When we are struggling to relax, it can be due to the fact that there are so many components in our lives that are overwhelming. Stress is something that is all too common and it affects people in so many different ways. It's not just the physical aspects, but too much stress causes a wide range of emotional symptoms as well. Let's highlight some of these, and what you can do to manage them.

Compulsive Behavior

Stress-related changes in the brain can potentially play a role in the onset of addiction. In certain people, genetics can also play an additional role in the stress response and subconscious predilection towards addiction. Because chronic stress changes the physical nature of the brain, this can promote addiction-forming behaviors such as pornography addiction and drug abuse. Treating this is usually through professional help. Compulsive behaviors can be managed by healthy lifestyle habits. But there are numerous approaches to manage stress, as recommended by professional bodies such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Depression

There have been significant studies suggesting a link between high levels of stress and depression. Depression is more common in people who report higher levels of stress. And while this is something that many individuals recognize within themselves, seeking treatment for depression can be a combination of efforts. Reaching out to a mental health professional may yield the appropriate results. But there are also other techniques such as mindfulness, exercise, and support groups. Depression is such a wide-ranging illness that it may take a significant amount of time to address. But removing stressful components from an individual's life can give the person room to develop resilience and tackle the issue.

Poor Memory and Concentration

Something that is not necessarily discussed much is if stress has an effect on memory and concentration. There have been studies that show adolescent rats exposed to mild forms of stress struggled with memory in comparison to non-stressed rodents. Treating memory and concentration problems effectively can stem from a significant change in lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy diet and keeping mind and body active can help an individual to remain focused, which also helps to reduce feelings of stress because there is a focus on something else, as opposed to the stress itself.

Irritability and Anger

A study showed that higher levels of anger were not just associated with mental stress, but also the possibility of a stress-related heart attack. Irritability and anger can be overcome using a wide variety of strategies such as relaxation techniques and communication. Anger management techniques can also help to reduce stress in situations that leave an individual feeling tense.

Stress can manifest itself in so many different ways that it's so important to recognize what is you, but also what you are doing as a reaction to the stress. By separating the two, you can begin to tackle these components. Many people might assume that it is a part of your emotional makeup, but if you find yourself stressed a lot, it is important to start recognizing how it manifests itself in your life.

Signs of Excessive Stress and Interview with the Vampire (aka STRESS)