6. Zero Patience
When stressed, it can be really hard, if not impossible, to be patient with other people. Even the slightest problem or issue can cause you snap or trigger an onslaught of anger and rage. In extreme cases, pent up stress can even result in violence (8).
While you may be able to apologize your way out of the first incident or even two, when this behavior becomes the norm, it is definitely time to seek out help in the form of relaxation techniques.
Better yet, find a good counselor who can help you through the rough patch. Don’t let stress interfere in your relationships with others.
7. Crazy Mood Swings
Women all too often know the effects that hormones can have on your emotions. Well, chronic stress also releases a slew of hormones like adrenaline (fight or flight) and cortisol (fat hormone) (9).
Ongoing stress can also trigger other hormones that can have you jumping up and down with excitement one minute and blubbering like a baby the next (10).
The worst thing you can do if you find your mood is roller coasting out of control is to ignore the symptoms and bottle these emotions up. Just like the cork on a champagne bottle, eventually, these emotions will rise to the top and explode out, catching anyone who is close in the crossfire.
This kind of stress can also lead people to drink or do drugs as a way to quell their out of control feelings. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. Talk to someone or find a safe way to vent before you spin out of control.
8. Hair loss
While it’s normal to lose up to 100 individual hairs every day, when you are stressed this amount can actually become extremely noticeable and even unmanageable.
One specific kind of hair loss, telogen effluvium, is directly caused by physical or emotional stress and it can take months for your hair to grow back once you have your stress under control (11).
Other diseases can also cause hair loss so if you notice a significant amount of hair falling out, you should check with your doctor. If the cause is indeed stress, you will need to find other ways to effectively deal with the issue.
9. Low Libido
This is probably the last symptom people will address when stressed because it can cause extreme embarrassment for some and feelings of insecurity for others.
Whatever your reaction to a loss of libido, however, there are ways you can deal with it. Often the issue can be as simple as exhaustion or more complex such as a hormonal imbalance (12).
Regardless, if you are experiencing issues with respect to your libido, it is time to seek out an effective form of stress management.
Speak to your partner and let them know you are stressed.
Just accepting the situation and recognizing you are under immense pressure can often help alleviate the issue.
Bonus: Weekend Headaches
Ironically, a drop in your stress levels on weekends or days you are away from work can actually trigger migraines, according to researchers at the Washington University Headache Center.
If you suddenly go from feeling crazed to feeling relaxed, it can trigger the hallmark symptoms of migraines—flashing lights, nausea, or a stabbing sensation in a particular spot on your temple or behind your eye (13).
The best way to avoid this type of migraine is to make sure you follow the same sleep and eating patterns you do during the work week.
Ultimately, you will have to learn how to handle stress better during the week, but until then, you can hold off the weekend headaches by following your normal routine.
