5 Symptoms You Didn’t Know Were Linked To Stress

Many of us have experienced the physical symptoms of stress. A racing heartbeat, headaches, and insomnia are just a few classic signs of stress. But have you ever experienced weird symptoms of stress? According to The American Institute of Stress, stress can cause symptoms that many wouldn’t be able to recognize right away. Here are five symptoms you didn’t know were linked to stress.

5 Weird Symptoms Linked to Stress

1. Increased Sensitivity of Pain: We all know stress can cause physical tension such as headaches and neck and back pain. But stress can also affect how we experience pain. It can cause us to have exaggerated responses to minor stimuli.
2. You Go with the Flow: A less-recognized stress response is going with the flow. For instance, if you and a loved one get into it, you might conceal your genuine emotions to avoid conflict. This is an example of responding to stress. Think of it as people-pleasing, which many of us know.
3. Reduced Fertility: Stress can reduce fertility in both men and women. It can disrupt a woman’s menstrual cycle, resulting in decreased ovulation and irregularity. In men, prolonged emotional stress is associated with a lower sperm count — and the sperm produced moves less effectively, making conception difficult.
4. Hot Flashes: It’s normal for people to get sweaty when nervous. But chronic stress can cause people to sweat more in general — and for menopausal women, stress can lead to more severe hot flashes.
5. Ringing in Your Ears: Some people also experience persistent ringing, buzzing, or chirping sounds in one or both ears when they’re stressed. Bergquist says this ringing, called tinnitus, may not always be related to what’s going on in the ears. The amygdala, part of the brain that reacts to stress, also helps to process sound — which means stress and fear can cause ear ringing.

I would have never imagined some of these symptoms were brought on by stress. It shows you why it’s essential not to let things (we can control) consume us.

Simples Ways to Distress

We understand you cannot control every problem that comes your way, but it is crucial to work on managing your stress levels. We have listed several ways to reduce it.

1. Workout more
2. Minimize screen and phone time
3. Reduce caffeine intake
4. Create boundaries
5. Cuddle

Stress is unavoidable, but it causes physical and mental strain on the body. Luckily, all of these methods were proven to release it. Therefore, the next time you feel immense stress, try some of these steps.