Signs You Are Stressed Out

Posted: Dec. 1, 2004

Every person reacts to stress in a different way. You might be:

• feeling down, edgy, guilty or tired
• having headaches or stomachaches
• having trouble sleeping
• laughing or crying for no reason
• blaming others for bad things that happen to you
• not being able to see the positive side of a situation
• not enjoying activities that you used to enjoy
• feeling resentful of people or things you have to do
• feeling like you have too many things you have to do

Can stress lead to more serious problems?
Yes. Some of these signs can also signal a more serious condition — depression. If you have a period of more than two weeks where you have a depressed mood, crying spells, sleep problems, feelings of guilt and thoughts of death or suicide, you should seek medical care.

Struggling with major stress and low self-esteem issues can also lead to problems such as eating disorders, hurting yourself, alcohol and drug abuse and even suicide. It is not okay to be so hard on yourself that it leads to thoughts about hurting or killing yourself. If you feel like giving up, or if you think things will never get better, it is time to get help.

Source: U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health

We Have Answers Do you have medical questions or need help finding a doctor? The experts at Columbia St. Mary's and Advanced Healthcare can help. Click here.