Is stress making you sick?

You can learn to manage your stress.

Everyone knows what stress is. It's part of a challenging life.

Some challenges are good for you—they keep you on your toes and make life exciting. For some people, however, challenges can lead to non-stop stress, which can lead to health problems and make many illnesses worse. For others, stress alone can cause symptoms that can be scary or even dangerous.

It's often hard for people and their doctors to figure out if stress might be causing a physical symptom. Even if two people have the same symptom, one person might have a physical illness, while the other person's illness is caused by stress.

This booklet will help you be aware of stress and its effects on your health. See if any of the types of stress we describe apply to you. If they do, we have ways to help you control your stress. Talk to your doctor about any exams, tests, or treatments that may help you.

KNOWING YOUR STRESS SYMPTOMS

Are you under too much stress?

Here are some warning signals that can be caused by stress. Note the ones that apply to you. Being aware of the signals is half the battle.

body

upset stomach
fatigue
backaches
headaches
constipation
diarrhea
chest tightness

mind

scary thoughts
unable to make decisions
racing mind
uncertainty
loss of usual creativity
forgetfulness
constant worry

feelings

irritability
impatience
tension
low self-esteem
depression
anger
loneliness

behavior

bad appetite or overeating
trouble sleeping
too much smoking
too much alcohol or drugs
grinding teeth
unsafe driving
not able to get things done

Page 1 2 3 4 5