The symptoms of stress can vary from person to person and depend on the situation. Stress can affect you both emotionally and physically, and it can also influence the way you behave. You might recognise the signs of stress straight away, but sometimes you might experience symptoms before realising you are stressed.
Some of the first symptoms that you might identify with as signs of stress might be physical, such as an upset stomach, tiredness or headaches. When we feel stressed, we often have difficulty sleeping and eating well. A lack of sleep and poor diet can affect our physical health, which in turn can have an impact on how we feel emotionally.
When we feel stressed, our bodies respond by producing hormones in what is sometimes called “fight or flight” response. Once a threat is detected, our bodies respond automatically, and the physical changes that take place can make you feel unwell and can have long-lasting effects on your health.