If you’ve been carrying lots of stress lately, it could be weighing you down and making you feel overwhelmed about everything that you have to cross off your to-do list. Maybe you’re even struggling to have enough energy for things you love doing. It sucks! But are you feeling overwhelmed in life under it all? Here are 12 signs to look out for.
1. You’re Tired All The Time.
Does it feel like you’re walking through mud when you try doing anything? It’s like getting out of bed is a mammoth task. Ugh, it’s horrible. You might be feeling exhausted, no matter what you do. It’s ’cause you’ve been pushing yourself so hard that you’re risking burnout.
2. You Can’t Shake The Melancholy.
It always feel like there’s a tint of sadness to everything. Even in a happy situation, you feel like you’re a tad melancholic and you just can’t shake it. This happens when you’re overwhelmed because your emotional reserves are being depleted so you have a lower tolerance for dealing with feelings.
4. You Don’t Want To Be Around People.
When you’re stressed, you might feel like you just want to get the hell away from everyone. You want to spend time alone and lock yourself in your apartment or bedroom and keep away from others, even friends and loved ones whose company you enjoy. Self-isolation can be a way to cope and avoid stimuli that feels too stressful.
5. You’re Stressed By Small Things.
You know you’re overwhelmed if little things stress you out and they never used to have this effect. These days, if you have to make a phone call to your bank or items spill out of your handbag, you want to lose your mind. It’s all too much. Your cup is full with everything on your plate and you can’t take anymore. (BTW, if it’s your dating life you’re stressing about, use our sister site, Sweetn, to help with that. They have some really good advice on reframing your outlook on love that’s super effective. Visit them here.)
6. You Can’t Focus On Anything.
When you’re stressed, the tiredness you feel can cause you to lack focus on tasks. Maybe you feel like you’re in a fog or you just can’t seem to concentrate. Even when reading your favorite novel, you have to re-read passages because nothing’s sinking in. Stress hormones that are flooding your body cause you to struggle to focus.
7. Your Memory Is Shot.
Linked to the previous point, you might also experience difficulty when trying to remember things. You’ll forget things like your friend’s birthday or what you had for dinner last night. Your mind’s just too strained, almost like it’s a laptop that’s got 50 windows open simultaneously. It’s hard to know what’s going on.
8. You’re Irritable All The Time.
You might feel more emotional than usual. Maybe you snap at your siblings over little things or you want to burst into tears at the drop of a hat. It can be surprising to you, but you could be dealing with emotional overload. This is when you have contradictory feelings or you’re dealing with too many feelings simultaneously and it’s too much.
9. You Struggle To Sleep Well.
When you’re stressed, you can struggle to sleep well. Maybe it takes you ages to fall asleep or you keep waking up throughout the night. This makes everything worse because a lack of sleep increases fatigue and can make you feel more irritable. Ugh. Again, you can thank those stress hormones running laps around your body.
10. You Want To GTFO Of Things.
When a deadline lands on your desk or you receive an invite to a party, your initial thought is, “I can’t do this.” You just don’t have the energy to deal with anything new and can’t imagine feeling enthusiastic about activities. You can’t help but roll your eyes when you see people on IG having fun and experiencing a zest for life. You’re bored with everything.
11. You’ve Ditched The Gym.
Sticking to a healthy lifestyle can become more challenging if you’re stressed and overwhelmed. You just don’t have the energy to hit the gym or prepare healthy meals. You’re putting your self-care on the back burner. However, you need to be kind and good to yourself when you’re feeling stressed, so it can help to try to do some of the healthy lifestyle habits you used to, even if you can’t give them your all.
12. You’ve Got Racing Thoughts.
If your thoughts are on a loop, this can be a sign of anxiety and stress. You could be trapped in a cycle of worrying, and it’s difficult to shut down those thoughts. One of the most effective ways to do this is to try to stop and live in the moment. Take a few deep breaths and ground yourself with mindfulness or meditation to clear your mind.
13. You’re Having Aches And Pains.
Your body might be showing signs of strain, such as in the form of weird aches and pains. Some days you might feel like your body’s decades older than it is, which sucks. This is a sign of chronic stress, so you need to do some relaxation exercises ASAP, like mindfulness and finding healthy outlets for your pent-up stress. With a bit of self-care, you’ll feel better.
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