Whether you are still in school, working, or trying to enjoy your everyday life, it’s usually hard to not feel stressed at one point or another.

If you’ve ever been up all night questioning your life choices or have felt consumed by your daily tasks, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Now don’t get me wrong: a little bit of stress is completely normal and unavoidable. However, being over-stressed can seriously take a toll on your life. It can affect your relationships, and your overall physical and mental health.

Signs and Symptoms

1. You aren’t feeling 100 percent.

Often times, when people are stressed, they find themselves having that constant “sick” feeling.

If you find yourself waking up and going through your day without feeling like your normal self, this could mean that you are too stressed out.

Some of the most common symptoms for stress are low energy, headaches, tense muscles, frequent colds and even nausea. Stress causes the body to break down and it definitely affects your immune system in a bunch of different ways.

2. You aren’t sleeping well.

People who undergo high levels of stress typically deal with insomnia.

Like I said above, if you are staying up at night thinking about all of the tasks you need to complete or questioning your life, you are probably stressed.

Sleep is important and going a few days without it won’t do you any good. If you think you might be over-stressed, stay aware of how much sleep you are getting and monitor your sleep patterns to see if there are any drastic changes.

3. Mood swings and lack of patience.

Have you ever felt happy one moment and then sad the next? That’s called a mood swing and when you’re feeling stressed, they can happen quite often.

Moreover, if you’re snapping at your friends or loved ones or starting to have patience with others, you could be over-stressed.

4. You can’t sit still.

If you have high levels of anxiety and are finding it hard to sit still or be alone with your thoughts, you need to address the issues going on in your life that are causing you to feel this way.

Not being about to sit still is a huge sign of being over-stressed and everyone needs to take some time for themselves to just relax.

While these are just a few of the many signs of feeling over-stressed. they are some of the most important ones.

How to Manage Your Stress

Here are some tips and things you can do to manage your stress.

1. Listen to your body.

Always listen to your body when you think you might be stressed.

If you feel like you need a nap, take one! Make time for extra sleep, time to eat a nice dinner, and do things that will be beneficial for your body.

2. Take a deep breath.

Stress is completely normal. Sometimes, taking a few deep breaths is all you need. Take a few minutes out of your day to focus on your breathing. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference deep-breathing can make.

3. Talk it out.

Talking to people who love and support you is one of the best stress relievers. Talking about your stress can help to lift some of the weight off of your shoulders and to get rid of some steam.

If you are stressed because of a problem, try going to your friends and family for advice. They can help you get through any situation!

4. Do something that will make you laugh.

Laughter is the best medicine. A good laugh will help to lighten the mood and will lower your body’s stress hormone. Watch your favorite comedy movie, or have a chat with your funny friend. The endorphins will help to lighten your mood.

5. Focus on doing things that make you happy.

The one thing you enjoy the most…do it! If you love to run, go on a run. If you love to shop, go to the mall. Take your mind off of the stress and do something fun.

Image: iStock