Emotional signs of stress

During Mental Health Month, I want to continue talking about stress.  Whether it’s physical, cognitive, emotional or behavioral, we feel it.  Here are the emotional signs of stress I want you to be aware of that will help your skin look younger.

What is stress?

We all feel stress in our lives – that is a normal part of life and we can’t get away from it.  When it overtakes you, that’s when it’s a problem.  Sometimes it’s from a traumatic event or anything that brings on strong emotional reactions.  If it inhibits you from functioning, that’s when something needs to be done because even if the ‘event’ is over, you may still be experiencing a reaction to the stressor.  This is very normal and it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.  You just need to learn the signs and what to do that helps you get over it.

How long does stress last?

Everyone is different.  Some people experience something and are able to deal with it quickly.  For many others, it could take weeks, months and sometimes longer.  It also doesn’t matter how severe the event was because we all experience things differently.  Sometimes what doesn’t seem very traumatic to one person could be devastating to someone else.  So, if you are still experiencing the aftereffects of a trauma, don’t feel like there is something wrong with you.  You are normal and it’s OK to feel the way you are feeling.  We just need to get you to a place where you can move on.

Emotional Signs of Stress

That brings me to the emotional signs I want you to be aware of.  Do any of these look / feel familiar to you?

1. Depression
2. Feeling overwhelmed
3. Fear
4. Guilt
5. Anxiety
6. Panic
7. A lot of anger
8. Shock
9. Irritability or agitation
10. Grief

These are not in any particular order.  Each of these reactions could be rather intense or just feel subtly ‘there’ but if you are experiencing them, you need to be aware that it is stress you are feeling.

What to do?

No matter how long you’ve been feeling this way, now that you know it is unhealthy, it is time to do something.  It’s hard to admit when you need help.  You may feel like you can ‘get over it’ on your own and that’s OK.  If working through it on your own is something you want to try, go for it.

Maybe that means taking a break in some form – whether that’s taking a trip to get away or just focusing on mindfulness or meditation.  Do it – do what you feel you need because often times, we do know but life doesn’t allow us to work through things sometimes.  This is due to our own feelings of obligation such as work or family.

Another thing you can do is to reach out to a trusted family member or friend.  Hopefully, you have someone you can turn to and that’s great.  Again, do it!  If you don’t feel fortunate enough to have someone or if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t worry.  Many people go through this stage feeling alone and helpless but it’s important to not give us because there are other ways:

Other options:

One of my most effective ways to beat the depression / anxiety is to work on a hobby.  If there’s something you’ve always enjoyed doing but haven’t done for a while, it’s time to pick it back up.  For some, this may feel like you’re wasting time but trust me when I tell you that this couldn’t be further from the truth.  The reality is that when we do something we enjoy, it helps to clear our minds and to get clarity.

Maybe it’s just walking in the park or maybe it’s playing an instrument.  Perhaps you love to paint, crochet, or read.  Whatever it is, get into that flow – you may be surprised how your stress melts away.  Speaking about melting stress – you could also schedule a massage!  Here are other stress buster activities you can try.

Still, if that doesn’t do it or if you don’t feel comfortable for whatever reason to go to someone you know, you can reach out to a professional.  Call your doctor and ask for a referral to a mental health professional.  If you’re feeling especially down, there’s the Suicide Prevention Hotline you can call.  Here are some resources.  The emotional signs of stress need to be recognized so you can do something about it.

Bring back your self-esteem and live a better life today!  Know the emotional signs of stress and take steps to feel better.

How we feel and look

When we feel good, both emotionally and physically, we look better.  When you aren’t feeling well, your body won’t perform well.  If you feel sad and depressed, you can see it in your face.  There may be worry written all over your face or sadness in your eyes.  We can’t sleep and it starts a whole cycle.  These are the emotional signs of stress.

If you take steps to change how you feel, which I know can be very difficult – but worth it, you will start to look better.  When your mood starts lifting, so will your eyes.  You’ll be getting better sleep and those bags and dark circles will start to disappear.  Your diet will improve and that helps your skin, which means acne and other skin issues can actually resolve themselves.