Stress Signs and How to Manage them Part 3
Do you often find yourself reaching for a cigarette or alcohol when you feel stressed? It may seem like “just a drink after a rough day,” but it could be a precursor to a more serious problem. Drug and alcohol abuse can be part of stressed behavior. Food can be a drug, too. Some people drown their sorrows in food, and this can be just as dangerous as drugs and alcohol. Overeating or binge eating are serious problems that should be addressed with a doctor or therapist.
Have you found that you like spending more time alone lately? Social withdrawal is a key component of stressed behavior. Often people who are having a difficult time may find that it’s easier to shut the world out. It’s easier for them to control their thoughts and environment if they only have themselves to worry about. And you might not even realize you’re stressed. You might have thought you just liked spending time alone. But is all that alone time actually a retreat from the problems you believe the world is causing you?
The more you pull away from people, the more you’ll find yourself in conflicts with others in the little time you spend with them. They may understand if they know you’re going through something, but after a while, the people who care about you the most will urge you to get help.
The Warning Signs
All of these symptoms are warning signs, but how do you know when you really are running out of time? How many of these stress symptoms should you be exhibiting before you seek help? The answer to these questions will be different for everyone, but here are some general guidelines.
If you start having thoughts of suicide, it’s definitely time to get help. If the cause of all the stress in your life is abuse by someone, then this also needs to be addressed immediately. On the flip side, if you’re the one doing the abusing because you are stressed, you should also seek professional help. Another time you need to look for help is if you’re considering a major change, like divorce or quitting a job.
We all feel stress from time to time, but prolonged periods of stress are not something to mess around with. It’s not the stress in your life that makes you who you are. It’s what you do with it. Too much stress can change your entire life, causing you to become a completely different person. But if you know what to look for, you can get help before the worst of these symptoms arrive.
