15 Small Signs Of Stress You Might Be Missing

You’re lacking energy

“When I’m feeling stressed, it typically shows up in the form of a general heaviness that saps me of energy, like being covered by a heavy, wet rag. And when I notice that feeling, my first instinct is always to lean into my meditation practice as a way of grounding and centering myself.”

—Lisa Sugarman, parenting author and columnist, Boston, MA

Your shoulders feel tight

“My shoulders start to knot like rope pulled tight. It feels uncomfortable and it can impact my overall well-being because I know my body is telling me to take a time out.”

—Kristin Meekhof, author and consultant, Royal Oak, MI

You’re not sleeping well

“My energy level drops when I’m stressed and my quality of sleep soon follows. These are my key indicators I’m operating on reserves and I need to get some much-needed rest.”

—Joshua Miller, master certified executive coach, Austin, TX

You’re fixating on small details

“I notice stress accumulating in my body and mind when I fall into long periods of single-focused work. This sneaky beast of intense focus on one aspect of a project worms its way into an obsessive and perfectionistic pattern. When I notice this behavior, I set my timer for 21 minutes and start seven-minute joy-making intervals. Taking time for creativity and joy-making intervals allows me to step away from whatever is pulling my attention in unhealthy ways, hit the reset button, and more mindfully discern what next step to take next.”

—Jenn Baljko, mindful writing , creativity and reinvention mentor, Barcelona, Catalonia

You don’t feel like yourself

“My thoughts were unorganized, my mood was unstable, my appetite diminished, and my usual motivation to exercise was hidden. I decided to try meditation and self-reflection using a popular app. Mindfulness has become my positive psychology for engagement, optimism, resiliency, vitality, self determination and positive relationships.”

—Michelle Schrouder, wellness director, Penfield, NY

You’re dizzy

“I get symptoms of vertigo and feel off-balance when I’m stressed. To compensate, I must get away from all people and get out in nature or in a quiet room and breathe three times in through my nose and out though my mouth. It is like a mindful moment of meditative breathing and necessary to prevent burnout.”

—M.J., licensed mental health counselor, Tampa, FL

You notice yourself twitching

“When I’m stressed, I start blinking excessively or twitching my fingers, especially when typing or using the mouse. I keep a note at my desk listing several actions that provide immediate relief: Sitali (cooling) breath, tapping, or somatic experiencing.”

—Christy Hughes, sales professional, Hamilton, TX

Your body feels tense and achy

“When I feel stressed, the tension starts in my shoulders, and then my eyelid starts twitching. That’s usually a sign that a migraine is coming on. I try to find a moment to do some box breathing and drink more water when I feel one coming on and when it’s actually here. Rest is the best answer I have to my mini burnouts.”

—Erin A., staff writer, Charlotte, NC

You’re getting more offended

“When I’m stressed, I’m more likely to take things personally. I become hypersensitive and lean toward righteousness.”

—Marijke McCandless, writer, workshop leader, Las Vegas, NV

You’re craving sugar

“I get stressed every now and then, and it is an entire energy shift. I am hungry for all things sweet, wish I could snuggle into a blanket fort and live there forever, and I become less confident in my abilities to communicate with others.”

—Natalie Constable, brand strategist, Tulsa, OK

You’re in a creative rut

“I always get blocked creatively when stress is building up. As soon as I notice the little things that add up, I stop and do some visualization exercises that I still use today.”

—Mark-John Clifford, former investment banker, Fresno, CA

You’re not taking full breaths

“When I’m under stress, I tend to breathe shallower and sometimes even find myself holding my breath. My cue to reset by taking some slow deep breaths in and out.”

—Emily Madill, certified professional Coach (ACC) and author, Nanaimo, B.C., Canada

Your mind is racing

“When I get stressed, I notice that my mind usually races at night and I have a hard time falling asleep (which of course, causes even more stress the next day.) My go-to solutions are making a solid to-do list before bed, writing in my gratitude journal, and finally listening to sleep meditations.”

—Henna Garrison, mindset coach, Sicily, Italy

You’re getting headaches

“ Oftentimes I will immediately feel my body tense up and get tight, especially around my face and neck. If I’m not too conscious, it can quickly escalate to a headache.”

—Karissa Whitman, motherhood content creator, San Diego, CA

You feel shaky

“When I am stressed, my body starts to shake or tremble. When my body reacts to this stress my ‘go-to’ is breathing. I breathe in through my nostrils for a count of four and exhale through my mouth for a count of eight. Deepening and prolonging the exhalation helps to relax the body and slow the tremors.”

—Candice Tomlinson, coach and hypnotherapist, Sydney, Australia

Read the complete article available at Thrive Global!

Reflection:

What are some signs you notice when you're stressed?

#Stress #Coping #EmotionalRegulation