1. Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain
2.
Gritting, grinding teeth
3.
Stuttering or stammering
4.
Tremors, trembling of lips, hands
5.
Neck ache, back pain, muscle spasms
6.
Light headedness, faintness, dizziness
7.
Ringing, buzzing or “popping sounds
8.
Frequent blushing, sweating
9.
Cold or sweaty hands, feet
10.
Dry mouth, problems swallowing
11.
Frequent colds, infections, herpes sores
12.
Rashes, itching, hives, “goose bumps”
13.
Unexplained or frequent “allergy” attacks
14.
Heartburn, stomach pain, nausea
15.
Excess belching, flatulence
16.
Constipation, diarrhea, loss of control
17.
Difficulty breathing, frequent sighing
18.
Sudden attacks of life threatening panic
19.
Chest pain, palpitations, rapid pulse
20.
Frequent urination
21.
Diminished sexual desire or performance
22.
Excess anxiety, worry, guilt, nervousness
23.
Increased anger, frustration, hostility
24.
Depression, frequent or wild mood swings
25.
Increased or decreased appetite
26.
Insomnia, nightmares, disturbing dreams
27.
Difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts
28.
Trouble learning new information
29.
Forgetfulness, disorganization, confusion
30.
Difficulty in making decisions
31.
Feeling overloaded or overwhelmed
32.
Frequent crying spells or suicidal thoughts
33.
Feelings of loneliness or worthlessness
34.
Little interest in appearance, punctuality
35.
Nervous habits, fidgeting, feet tapping
36.
Increased frustration, irritability, edginess
37.
Overreaction to petty annoyances
38.
Increased number of minor accidents
39.
Obsessive or compulsive behavior
40.
Reduced work efficiency or productivity
41.
Lies or excuses to cover up poor work
42.
Rapid or mumbled speech
43.
Excessive defensiveness or suspiciousness
44.
Problems in communication, sharing
45.
Social withdrawal and isolation
46.
Constant tiredness, weakness, fatigue
47.
Frequent use of over-the-counter drugs
48.
Weight gain or loss without diet
49.
Increased smoking, alcohol or drug use
50.
Excessive gambling or impulse buying
In a study called Heart and soul, investigators have looked into people's
history of psychologic stress, measured their inflammatory cytokines, and
hypothesize a connection. Inflammatory cytokines are chemicals released by the
immune system, and they work by activating numerous cells of the immune system
to attack invaders such as viruses, pathogenic bacteria, or cancer. The problem
is that our immune system can be over-activated and lead to autoimmune disease.
Most modern chronic disease, including atherosclerosis and depression, are associated with elevations in these cytokines, elevations in
autoimmunity, and diseases that linger and are difficult to eradicate and
treat. The connection is confirmed by many other studies linking a history of trauma (all sorts) to elevations in cytokines.
The
down-low is that stress is linked to bad cytokines (IL-6, TNF alpha, C reactive
protein, etc.) and to psychology conditions
like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive
Disorder (MDD), in addition to anxiety disorders, which themselves are also
linked to the bad cytokines… as is cardiovascular disease, even in
psychologically healthy individuals. Moreover, a number harmful behaviors are
known to increase the inflammatory cytokines (https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/addiction" title="Psychology Today looks at substance abuse" style="transition: color 0.2s;
-webkit-transition: color 0.2s;word-wrap: break-word">substance abuse, https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/smoking" title="Psychology Today looks at smoking" style="transition: color 0.2s;
-webkit-transition: color 0.2s;word-wrap: break-word">smoking), while
ameliorating behaviors may help to decrease them (exercise, meditation, good sleep hygiene).
An
additional observation is that higher lifetime trauma was associated with
higher levels of inflammatory cytokines at baseline and 5 years later.
When the researchers controlled for confound factors such as
psychological symptoms of the trauma (for example, PTSD or depression), the relationship
held true, meaning those who were subject to trauma had elevations of
inflammation even if their behavior and coping seemed more normal. In individuals
with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, higher inflammation is associated
with greater risk of death and complication.
If you'd like to learn more about stress and the ways by which if affects health, follow this link: http://www.stress.org/what-is-stress/</span>
