Most people have some level of stress at some time in their lives. In today’s society, it is pretty much inevitable. The United States especially has a high-stress culture that permeates the lives of so many. For some stress is a way of life with work, family, and just life in general, never mind all the things going on in the world.
We all know the “typical” signs of stress, the rapid heartbeat, fatigue, feeling emotional, gastrointestinal issues, poor immunity against illness, and sleep disturbances. But did you know that there are other symptoms related to stress that aren’t so well known? Some call them surprising stress symptoms, others call them weird, but whatever you call them they are worth paying attention to. Your body could be experiencing severe stress and you don’t even know it.
Chills and Hot Flashes
You may have experienced chills and hot flashes when you had an illness like a cold or flu, or during menopause, but did you know that severe stress can cause it too? Severe stress often produces anxiety which brings with it a wide range of symptoms from hair-trigger emotions to chills and hot flashes as well as sweating. And here’s the interesting part. You don’t have to have a panic attack to experience them.
Pressure in the Head
If you have ever experienced pressure in your head, like a band wrapped tightly around your head, with or without pain, you have likely had a tension headache. Tension headaches (as well as some migraines) do not always have to present with pain. The tightness and pressure that can extend down your neck or stay strictly in your head, with or without pain, point to a tension headache which is often caused by stress.
Dry Mouth or Difficulty Swallowing
If you have chronic dry mouth you might want to examine how much stress is in your life. While there are other reasons for dry mouth like certain medications and illness, stress is a little-known cause that is quite common. When the body is under stress, especially when it produces high anxiety, it can inhibit the function of the salivary gland which decreases the flow of saliva. The result is dry mouth which can lead to difficulty swallowing.
Dizziness, Lightheadedness, or Feeling Faint
Stress can do some crazy things to the body. The more stressed you are, either physical or mental, the less optimal your body functions. It can cause your heart rate to increase and your breathing to become shallow and rapid. This can cause dizziness or lightheadedness and you may even feel like you might faint. You should also look at how you are eating though and if you are staying hydrated. Stress can cause a decreased appetite and not eating can cause these symptoms as well. Pay attention to your body!
Hair Loss
Hair’s natural growth cycle involves some degree of hair loss as the follicles move from growth to resting cycles. However, stress can disrupt the natural growth pattern of your hair sending an increased number of follicles to move to the resting cycle faster than usual. That causes increased hair loss that is more noticeable and can cause some distress – which increases your stress and that in turn increases hair loss. It is a vicious cycle.
5 Ways to Beat the Effects of Stress
There are many ways to reduce stress even if you can’t eliminate it from your life. Taking time to care for yourself with exercise, a relaxing bath, medication, or simply spending time with family and friends. However, sometimes you need a little more help and there are things you can do to not only relieve stress but help your body manage stress better.
We offer all of these services at Sandstone and have had great success with helping people just like you break free from the debilitating symptoms of stress.
Neurofeedback
This is a non-invasive, painless technique that helps change the timing and activation patterns in your brain. It slowly, gently helps guide your brain to a restoration of healthy, normal ranges and reconnection of neural pathways that have been disrupted or disconnected. Learn more at the Sandstone Center for Neurofeedback.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment that helps bring your body back into balance by aligning the spine. When the spine is not aligned it can affect the way the central nervous system functions which can put the body under stress or exacerbate symptoms of stress. Regular chiropractic care can help align the body and balance it so you feel more relaxed and less stressed.
Weight Management
Weight can play a significant role in how stressed we are and how stressed we feel. Being overweight or underweight puts stress on the body but also has psychological effects that can be stressful as well. Add to that dehydration (even low-level dehydration), low blood sugar, hunger from skipped meals, and “eating your feelings” and you have a recipe for high stress. Healthy weight management gets your body back in balance with the right foods, regular meals, and proper hydration. Learn more at Sandstone Weight Loss.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormones have specific roles in the body but sometimes they don’t function as well as they should. You may have fluctuations or deficiencies that put stress on your body and cause certain issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps balance hormones and get your body back to a point where it is functioning normally as it should. Learn more at Sandstone Wellness.
Is stress drowning out the good things in your life? At Sandstone we have several treatments that can help you better manage your stress and improve your quality of life. Call today and make an appointment to discuss how we can help you find your best life free from stress.
