What is Stress? Understanding a Normal Part of Life

Stress is something we all experience and is a perfectly normal part of life. However, once stress gets too high, it can impact every part of our lives, including our work, family life, social life, and physical health. High stress is exhausting, often leaving us feeling like we're carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. Things we normally handle with ease can suddenly feel completely overwhelming.

Common Signs of Stress

The Components of Stress

For many, stress is not just one thing; it is a combination of:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Panicky feelings
  • Poor sleep
  • A drop in self-confidence, self-esteem, and sense of wellbeing

Stress can show up in many different ways, making it easy to feel it is taking over our lives and that we are powerless to stop it.

Emotional Signs Of Stress

Common Mental and Emotional Signs of Stress

Do any of these sound familiar? Mental patterns associated with stress often include:

  • Worrying ("What Ifs"): Worrying about things you feel you shouldn't worry about as much as you do, such as “What if this happens?” or “What if I make a mess of things?” These thoughts can feel relentless and hard to turn off.
  • Brooding ("If Onlys"): Replaying the past and focusing on thoughts like “If only I hadn't done that” or “If only this hadn't happened.”
  • Focus and Calm Issues: Finding it hard to relax, stay calm or switch off. Concentration may also be inconsistent.
  • Mood Changes: Feeling more irritable or angry than usual. Over time, this can chip away at self-confidence and self-esteem, causing you to doubt your own abilities.
  • Loss of Motivation and Enjoyment: Lacking “get up and go” and losing interest or enjoyment. Your sense of humour may begin to drift away and your world can start to feel grey.
  • Feelings of Failure: Stress can leave us feeling worthless, hopeless or like failures, even if no one else sees us that way.

These emotional and mental symptoms highlight how stress can cause your thoughts to become relentless and negative, impair your ability to focus or relax, and ultimately erode your self-worth and motivation.

Physical Signs Of Stress

Physical and Behavioral Responses

Stress doesn't just stay in your head; it affects your body too.

Physical Reactions: Common physical signs include:

  • Inability to sit still
  • Tense muscles
  • Changes in breathing
  • Racing heart
  • Feeling sick or exhausted much of the time

Sleep Problems: Poor sleep can leave you feeling anxious, agitated and low during the long hours of the night. Without enough rest, it can become harder to cope with the demands of the next day.

Avoidance and Withdrawal: Avoiding activities or places because you are worried you will not be able to cope, or withdrawing because the world feels too threatening.

Unhealthy Habits: Turning to unhealthy coping habits, such as excessive drinking or drug use, which can make stress worse over time.

Panic: Stress can escalate into panicky feelings or full-blown panic attacks that feel frightening and exhausting, leaving you worried about when the next one might happen.

All of these are common signs of stress.

Managing Stress and Improving Wellbeing

Regaining Control with Stress Control at Home

Stress Control at Home is an online course designed to help you manage stress and regain control. This evidence-based programme:

  • Combines cognitive behavioural therapy, positive psychology and wellbeing skills.
  • Helps you understand and manage your current stress while building resilience for the future.
  • Teaches you practical skills to become your own therapist.
Find Out More