Do you know how your body tells you it is stressed?

Stress shows up in your body when your brain finds a threat to your safety. Threats can be physical, like seeing a bear in the woods. Threats can also be mental and emotional, like a sick loved one or work changes. No matter the stressor, your body’s response remains the same.

Symptoms of stress:

• Forgetfulness. Stress and anxiety take up your brain’s energy. It can affect your attention and ability to retrieve memories. If you’re feeling foggy or having trouble focusing, it may be because of stress.
• Tense Muscles. Our bodies deal with stress by going into fight-or-flight mode. We release hormones that prepare our muscles to respond to a threat causing muscle tension.
• Gut Problems. Your gut and nervous system are so closely connected that it is sometimes called your “second brain.” Chronic (long-term) stress can cause painful GI issues.
• Sickness. Constant stress causes increased heart rate and blood pressure which puts a strain on the body. This can have long-lasting effects on your overall health and immune system over time.