Stress...We All Have It

We all have stress. Stress is a normal fact of life. You cannot get away from it, regardless of how hard you try. Some stress is good, in its own way. Too much stress can cause health and emotional problems. There are some common signs that are red flags, if you will, to know that you are overstressed, which is not good. People who remain overstressed can become burned out. Burned out basically means that you lack energy, physical, emotional and mental energy. If this extreme amount of stress is allowed to continue on in your life, it can lead to exhaustion and withdrawal.

Some of the warning signs to being burned out can include:

1. Changes in eating habits. Over eating or under eating are possible red flags. When some people are stressed out, they eat and eat and eat. Other people do not eat at all or very little. The people that eat and eat, will gain weight. This causes other problems for their health now.

2. Changes in sleeping patterns. Sleeping too much, or not enough can scream out a problem. Trouble falling asleep or waking up is also what some may experience during times of burn out. If you wake up in the middle of the night and can't stop thinking about what is stressing you most, that is also a sign of burn out.

3. Getting sick more often and easier than before. Frequent colds, headaches, stomach problems or other aches and pains is also a sign. You may not recover as quickly either during the extreme stress periods.

4. Intense cravings for comfort foods or vices. Wanting cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, or high calorie, high fat foods may start to happen when in a burn out state. Doing these things won't stop the stress, maybe just alleviate the pain or worries. Just know that it isn't going to solve anything and these things can make it worse, especially for your physical health.

5. Feelings of hopelessness and all around depression. Lack of sleep and lack of a healthy routine will cause the depression to strike. Some may have feelings of suicide as the only way out of their stressful situation.