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Stressis the bodys normal response to change.

It can be physical, emotional, or mental.

Whether its meeting an upcoming deadline or organizing abirthdayparty, stress is part of everyday life.

person stressed out at work

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However, everyone reacts to stress differently.

Feeling stressed may be obvious for some but others may not notice until it becomes more severe.

How can you know if youre experiencing a normal level of stress or if youre actually overstressed?

Although stress affects everyone differently, there are some common signs you might be overstressed.

When someone is overstressed, theirmind is overwhelmedand it affects their ability to fall asleep and remain asleep.

You Feel Anxious or IrritableOr Both!

This can create feelings of irritability.

However, if your heart is racing when youre standing still or sitting, it could mean youre overstressed.

When you are experiencing stress, both your heart rate andblood pressurego up.

The severity of stress has been shown to be significantly associated with an increase in acne severity.

You Feel Achey

Chronic pain and chronic stress go hand in hand.

How does your body feel when you get up in the morning?

If you constantly feel pain in your joints and your back, you may be overstressed.

One of the reasons prolonged stress can cause aches and pain involvescortisolwhich is released during the bodys stress response.

Cortisol dysfunction causes inflammation which, in turn, creates widespread tissue and nerve damage.

Your Sex Drive Is Down

Stress can cause changes in libido.

A 2021 study looked at the association between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on womens reproductive health.

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