Physical Symptoms of Severe Stress

The physical symptoms of severe stress can range from mild to severe, and anyone who experiences chronically high levels of stress on an ongoing basis is at risk of suffering from them. You can reduce these symptoms with a careful stress control and reduction plan, but some chronically overstressed people may develop symptoms which require the care and supervision of a doctor. Learn which symptoms can be managed at home, and which stress-related symptoms require a visit to the doctor.

Stress can cause tension headaches and other types of serious physical symptoms.

Muscle Tension and Pain

Excessive stress can leave muscles tense and tight, causing chronic pain and soreness. Pain resulting from tension usually focuses in the lower back, neck, or scalp. The first step in treating any kind of pain is a visit to the doctor to rule out an injury or underlying medical condition. If the reason for the pain isn’t medical, it’s time to try a few things at home to relieve stress-related muscle tension.

Gentle stretching can help reduce tension in the muscles, and yoga specifically is a type of stretching that focuses on relaxing the body. Joining a yoga class taught by an experienced instructor is a great way to learn the poses and practice breath and body awareness.

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is another way to safely reduce muscle tension. Each muscle in the body is successively tensed and then relaxed, which teaches people who are chronically tense to recognize and experience the feeling of relaxed muscles. For those who aren’t able to practice PMR due to high blood pressure or other conditions,passive muscle relaxation is another option for relaxing tight muscles.

Headaches

Stress-related headaches are different than those caused by illnesses and injury. Relieving a tension headache is not simply a matter of relaxing the clenched muscles of the scalp and neck. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, tension headaches are the result of a number of factors. Pain sensitivity, genetics, and neurotransmitters all play a role in producing these painful episodes. Stress-related headaches vary in duration and the severity of the pain.

Chronic tension headache sufferers can treat the symptoms of each headache with over-the-counter remedies like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but it’s important to develop a long-term plan for prevention of future tension headaches. This can involve treatments with an antidepressant called amitriptyline or other prescription medications.

Sufferers of chronic tension headaches may also benefit from specific lifestyle changes. Learning and practicing relaxation techniques like guided imagery, mindfulness meditation, or biofeedback can reduce overall stress, thereby preventing future tension headaches.

Stress can also trigger migraine headaches in those who are vulnerable to them. Migraines are a generally more severe type of headache that often is associated with severe pain that may interfere with the ability to carry out daily activities. According to the National Headache Foundation more than 29.5 million Americans struggle with migraine headaches, and 70 to 80 percent of those 29.5 million have a family history of migraine. Migraines can be seriously debilitating, and those who suffer from them should see their doctor as soon as possible.

Digestive Symptoms

Gastrointestinal distress is another type of the physical symptoms of severe stress. This can include mild to moderate stomach pain or heartburn which isn’t obviously related to food, or nausea and vomiting that isn’t related to an illness. Stress can also affect the lower digestive tract, causing embarrassing and often uncomfortable gas, diarrhea, or constipation. Scientists aren’t sure whether stress directly affects these processes or triggers behaviors that cause these symptoms.

The gastric ailment most commonly associated with stress, the ulcer, is actually caused by a bacterial infection in 99% of cases. This type of bacterial infection may also be at the root of chronic heartburn. Stress may play a role in these conditions by lowering the immune system and increasing the body’s vulnerability to the bacteria which causes ulcers.

Physical Symptoms of Severe Stress

It’s difficult to tell which symptoms are stress-related and which are actually symptoms of an underlying medical condition. It’s a good idea to see a doctor for any symptoms or problems that persists for more than a day or two, or symptoms that get worse over time. Once the medical all-clear is given, it’s time to develop a plan to keep stress under control and to prevent recurrences of future stress-related symptoms.

• Alternative Anger Management Therapy
• Funny Stressful Clipart
• How to Handle Stress Clipart

• Anger Management Worksheets
• Mandalas for Meditation and Coloring
• Stress Management Lesson Plans
• Stress Management PowerPoint Presentation
• Free Guided Relaxation

• Stress Management Medical Students
• Give Me the Symptoms of Stress
• Category:About Stress
• Police Officers Managing Stress
• Main Page