by Cody Hodge

Created on: July 31, 2009

What are some signs that you might be a little bit too stressed out? We have all been stressed before, and we all know what it is like to be under a lot of pressure. Being stressed is fine, we are always being a little stressed out about things, and sometimes being stressed out isn't the worst thing in the world. Sometimes being stressed focuses us a little bit, and helps us wake up and get out of a lethargic mood. Have you ever been tired, and then you see that it is getting busy, and you all of a sudden perk up? However, what are some signs that you might be too stressed out?

If you have ever been at work for too long, or haven't gotten to sleep, you might be stressed. According to many scientists, the lack of sleep, or the onset of stress over too long a period of time will hamper your immune system. Basically the body is trying to fight the stress, and help you cope with it, and get you past whatever is stressing you. However, you can only be stressed for so long before the body can no longer fight the stress of life. Sometimes you just have to say no.

According to Hans Selye, there is a General Adaptation System that we all have when it comes to stress. First we are alarmed by what happens to us, and the body tries to react. Then the body will try to resist the stress, or try to adapt to the new stress so that the body can still function, and then the body will become exhausted. The body cannot keep up the fight all the time, and over time you will just become exhausted if you try to fight stress for too long.

If you are stressed for too long of a time, you can develop ulcers, you will be more likely to get sick, and depression can set in. Some factors that aggravate stress are drinking, lack of sleep, too much work, a paper that is coming up, or something in your life that is hard to handle. Something like a divorce, a break up, or the loss of a job can increase the levels of stress in your body. If you are too stressed it can be hard for the body to cope. The best way to get around this is to just stop stressing, or to get out of the demands that are stressing you.

So if you are ever wondering if you are too stressed out, just think about what is going on in your life. Do you work too much, sleep too little, or do you drink a lot? If you do, changing some behaviors can be a good way to reduce your stress. Trying to put things in perspective helps out a lot too. Just relaxing a little bit, or not getting so worked up over every little thing can help reduce stress. Just relax, your health could be at stake.

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