Stress is a part of life, and we all experience it. But when it gets out of control, it can take a serious toll on your health. Stress can cause many symptoms and often manifests in different ways for different people.
Our network of doctors here at Mosh can help you understand what symptoms of stress you may have and guide you through them.
Since stress is a common and natural physiological reaction, it can be difficult to distinguish between productive, manageable stress and stress that makes you feel overwhelmed and unproductive.[1] Moreover, since each person has different tolerance levels for stress and copes differently, it’s even harder to gauge whether they are stressed to the point of being overwhelmed.
The symptoms of stress can also vary for each person, as everyone can respond differently to a source of stress due to different factors. In general, the symptoms of stress are divided into two broad categories: psychological symptoms and physical symptoms.[2]
Yes, prolonged exposure to any sort of stress can result in changes in a person’s physical health, such as:
- increased difficulty in breathing, especially if you’re prone to asthma or hyperventilation;
- high blood pressure;
- stomach-related issues, such as acid reflux or type-3 diabetes;
- decreased libido and an increase in fertility issues;
- changes physiological functions, like sleep and appetite;
- increased frequency of body pains and aches;
- decreased immunity or prone to feeling fatigued more often;
- increased skin sensitivity; and
- stress-induced hair loss.[3]
While stress can induce physical changes or symptoms in a person, it can also trigger changes psychologically or in mental health. These psychological symptoms that can indicate if you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed with your situation may include:
- feeling overwhelmed;
- constant worry;
- being easily distracted;
- withdrawal from social activities;
- increased reliance on alcohol or substances to cope; and
- thoughts of self-harm or suicide.[4]
It should be emphasised that this is not a substitute for actually consulting your doctor and assessing your symptoms; rather, this serves as a broad general indicator for when you should consider consulting your doctor. We do not recommend that you self-diagnose.
Consulting a doctor about your problems online is made convenient for you with Mosh. In the event that treatment is suitable for your situation, an Australian doctor will review and consult with you through a phone call, video conference, or even a text message.
Yes, too much stress can impact your health.[5] Typically, it’s a normal response to new or difficult situations, with mental and physical effects among the most common symptoms of stress. Low to moderate levels of stress can occasionally be a good motivator to be productive and allow your body to learn from new experiences.
While stress can be beneficial at small to moderate levels occasionally, if you don’t take the time or opportunity to recover sufficiently, then the stress can also build up.[6] If stress levels continue to rise and stay high for long periods, then it could develop into a health issue.
Stress can start to become a serious health issue when you are unable to cope with or overcome your situation for an extended period of time. This would result in chronic stress, which may persist and begin to impact your mental and physical health severely.
Constantly being in high-stress situations or recurring high-stress levels can often lead to issues with the cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, and reproductive systems. Moreover, too much stress can also lead to various mental health disorders, which may exacerbate your health issues further or lead to new ones developing.
If you think you are currently under a lot of stress, no matter the cause, then it’s highly recommended that you should consult your doctor to medically assess your situation, verify symptoms of stress, and guide you on the symptoms of depression, types of anxiety and how to manage stress.
At Mosh, our telehealth platform connects you with a network of AHPRA-registered doctors online – skip out on the hassle of waiting in line at the clinic or scheduling appointments. You can take our short quiz for our doctors to get an idea of your concerns. If treatment is suitable for your situation, an Australian doctor will review and consult with you through call, video conference, or even text.
The causes of stress greatly vary from person to person, as stress relies on the demands being asked of us and our ability and capacity to cope with those demands.[7] The level and extent of stress a person might feel depends on many factors. So while an event may appear incredibly stressful for you or someone else, it may be well within their control.
Although each person may experience varying levels of stress from any one situation, there are some common causes of stress that may include:
- major traumatic life events;
- unstable family or home life;
- financial or work-related issues;
- relationship problems;
- emotional and mental problems; and
- physical disorders.[8]
You may think that it’s easier to keep going without taking a break, that if you just work through and overcome what’s making you stressed, it will resolve itself in time. While this may be true for some people, it is important to keep in mind that each person has a different tolerance for stressful situations, ways of coping with stress, and breaking points.
That’s why you must consult with your doctor to better understand what makes you stressed and clarify if you’re experiencing and suffering from any symptoms of stress from daily life. Identifying your symptoms is the first step to doing something about them.
Furthermore, Mosh has a network of doctors to cater for your unique needs and experiences. If, in the process, you discover that you have higher-than-normal stress levels, among other probable health issues, our doctors may recommend a personalised treatment plan to assist you.
We will never force you to commit to any treatment plan that you don’t want to. If you feel like your current doctor may not be the right fit for you, you could use our network of doctors to match with the right one for you!
Once you’ve found the perfect doctor for your needs and experience and have opted to use one of many treatment plans, we also offer a range of services for our Moshers. We offer one-on-one confidential therapy sessions online to support you in every step of your recovery.
Everyone will experience stress at some point, but the way you respond to challenges in life will depend on your specific situation. Managing high-stress periods will be easier if you are familiar with what stresses you and how you should respond to them. Learn more about stress management with Mosh.
When your stress levels rise unchecked and are left untreated, you could develop more serious mental disorders like social anxiety and depression.
At Mosh, we are committed to helping you get through your toughest moments through our quality health services and medications. We will assist you with all your health, skin care, mental health, and sexual health concerns. We are available Monday through Friday, 8.30 am to 5.30 pm AEST.
If you’ve been looking online for options related to ‘when I feel depressed’ or are searching for a depression test, you can bring up these concerns to a Mosh doctor who is ready to listen.
Talk to us.
