6 surprising signs that you’re stressed

Do you have any of these?

Everyone seems to be stressed these days. No big deal, right? Because it's so common, you might think that if you're not lying on the floor from exhaustion, you're probably fine.

Sadly, stress has a way of creeping up on you and can impact your body in some very bizarre ways. What's worse, these physical symptoms can exacerbate your emotional angst even more. But you can learn to read your body and recognise the not-so-obvious signs of being overstressed. As compiled from Women’s Health, here is what you need to watch out for.

Stomachaches
The brain's nervous system is linked to the gut so mental stress can wreak havoc on your GI tract, says Bincy Abraham, a gastroenterologist at Baylor College of Medicine. Depending on your situation, your doctor may treat your tummy troubles with over-the-counter drugs (stool softeners), prescriptions (such as antinausea meds), or dietary changes (fiber can restore your gut's stress-ravaged helpful bacteria).
In the meantime, the best natural remedy for stress-caused constipation, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting is exercise. It may be the last thing you want to do when your stomach is aching, but heading out for a run can boost endorphins that make everything feel better.

Hair loss
Roughly three to six months after a majorly stressful event, you might notice more hair on your brush or in the drain than usual (shedding around 100 strands a day is normal). Super-high levels of sex hormones called androgens, which zoom up during stress, could mess with hair follicles to prompt temporary hair loss, says Roberta Sengelmann, a dermatologist in California. Eating a balanced diet can help cell growth and healing.

Eyelid twitching
These annoying muscle spasms typically occur around one eye and last for a few minutes. Stress is one of their most common causes, though we don’t know why.

When a twitch strikes, close your eyes, try to relax, and breathe deeply. Repeat this four times while using a fingertip to put mild pressure on the lid that's twitching. Over-the-counter artificial tears can also help ease the spasms, which dry eyes can exacerbate. If the twitching spreads to other parts of your face, see a physician.

Acne
Just like hair, your skin is sensitive to androgens which can bring on breakouts, says Sengelmann. Talk to your dermatologist if your zits keep coming back—the chronic inflammation can lead to scarring.
Oral and topical prescription meds, as well as certain soaps, can help unplug pores and wipe out the bacteria that cause acne. And be sure to stick to non-comedogenic (ie, non-pore-clogging) makeup, moisturizers, and sunscreen.

Back Pain
The hormones your body pumps out when you're stressed produce a fight-or-flight response, which—along with raising your blood pressure and heart rate—tightens up muscles. "If you're trying to outrun a predator, that's good," says Joanne Borg-Stein of Harvard's Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. "But if it's all the time, that sort of chronic stress response can lead to pain." Plus, muscle aches are par for the course if you're hunched over at your desk all day worrying about deadlines.

Movement is the best remedy, so if your back is in knots, stand up every hour and do some stretches, such as reaching your arms over your head, touching your toes, and rolling your neck and shoulders. Also try to get in a 10- to 15-minute walk around the office or outside once or twice a day.

Rashes
Stress can bring on mysterious rashes or flare-ups of pre-existing conditions by throwing your immune system out of whack. When these are lowered, you could become susceptible to rash-causing skin infections caused. On the flip side, if your immunity goes into overdrive, your skin will become more sensitive, making a dormant issue like eczema act up.

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