I See the Signs

Many of us are well aware of situations or circumstances that cause us stress. In the moment we can recognize the signs of emotional response to the stress we are suddenly experiencing. Are we as good at recognizing stress over the long term? What about stress that slowly creeps in? This kind of stress starts off small but accumulates over time and before you know it, we are blowing our tops. We have all experienced this stress at some time or another in our lives. It isn't as easily recognized or noticeable in our lives until it builds up and becomes too much.
There are still ways of catching this stress before it becomes an explosion. We need to be much more intentional about recognizing it before it becomes overwhelming.

The following is a list of signs and symptoms of stress, personal and work related:
weight change
changes in hygiene
posture trembling or shaking
increased smoking or coffee drinking
change in energy (highly energized, or lethargic)
skin pallor or blushing
breathlessness inarticulate speech
sighing changes in health
nail biting
tearfulness frowning or overly serious
tone of voice
alcohol or drug abuse

Signs and symptoms of stress at work:
being late for work
absenteeism longer lunch breaks
clock watching
leaving early
changes in productivity
performance issues
frequent mistakes or accidents
poor memory
difficulty making decisions
impaired judgment
lack of personal care
loss of temper, mood swings, over-reactions
withdrawal socially or isolating self
poor time management and inability to meet deadlines
low morale / commitment to the employer
conflict in workplace relationships
low efficiency

Do any of these sound familiar? When you reflect on the particularly stressful times in your life, which of these were prevalent? We can't always rely on the obvious emotional responses to stress. Not everything that causes us stress is immediate. However, if we pay attention to our physiological responses, as well as our other more known responses, we can still recognize and respond accordingly. If any of the above signs and symptoms stand out to you chances are they are the best indicators of sneaky stress in your life. Evaluate these areas often and note any changes. Once you have started regularly monitoring your emotional, psychological, as well as your physiological patterns, you will be able to recognize the signs of stress earlier and deal with it in a more effective way.