According to WHO, Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives.Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to our overall well-being.

What Are The Signs of Stress?

Stress makes it hard for us to relax and can come with a range of emotions, including anxiety and irritability. When stressed, we may find it difficult to concentrate. We may experience headaches or other body pains, an upset stomach or trouble sleeping. We may find we lose our appetite or eat more than usual. Chronic stress can worsen pre-existing health problems and may increase our use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances.

Stressful situations can also cause or exacerbate mental health conditions, most commonly anxiety and depression, which require access to health care. When we suffer from a mental health condition, it may be because our symptoms of stress have become persistent and have started affecting our daily functioning, including at work or school.

An important question to ask is that does everyone respond to stress the same way? No, everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Coping styles and symptoms of stress vary from person to person.

Also, its important to note that everyone would be naturally stressed in difficult/ challenging situations such as job interviews, school exams, unrealistic workloads, an insecure job, or conflict with family, friends or colleagues. For many people stress reduces over time as the situation improves or as they learn to cope emotionally with the situation. Stress tends to be widespread during events such as major economic crises, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, war, and community violence.

Stress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is to blame for that irritating headache, your frequent insomnia or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be the cause.

How Does Stress Affect Us?

Stress affects both the mind and the body, your thoughts, feelings and your behavior. A little bit of stress is good and can help us perform daily activities. Too much stress can cause physical and mental health problems. Learning how to cope with stress can help us feel less overwhelmed and support our mental and physical well-being. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Common Effects of Stress

On your body: Headache, muscle tension/pain, chest pain, fatigue, change in sex drive, stomach upset, sleep problems.

On your mood: Anxiety, restlessness, lack of motivation/focus, feeling overwhelmed, irritability/anger, sadness/depression.

On your behavior: Overeating/ undereating, angry outbursts, drug/alcohol misuse, tobacco use, social withdrawal, exercising less often.