The multiple stressors that can affect us lead to a specific pattern of symptoms-“stress reactions.” Stress symptoms are initially perceived as the actual complaints.
Stress reactions can manifest themselves on three levels:
- At the physical level
- At the behavioral level
- At the level of thoughts and feelings – “cognitive-emotional level”.
The symptoms at the behavioral level are also visible to the outsider, in contrast to the symptoms of the hidden level of thoughts and feelings, which the affected person can feel only himself.
The stress symptoms often first play out on the physical level – for example, headaches, dizziness. A particularly important symptom is the feeling of exhaustion, which can become quite dominant if the stressors continue for too long; it is the focus of a special form of permanent stress, the burnout syndrome.
Symptoms of stress are:
- Faster pulse rate, increased blood pressure.
- Faster breathing, difficulty breathing
- Dry mouth, dry throat
- Wet hands
- Heat sensation
- Increased muscle tension, back and neck area.
- Dyspepsia (irritable stomach), gastroesophageal reflux disease, (abnormal reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus), heartburn, diarrhea (diarrhea), constipation (constipation).
- Restlessness, twitching
- Cephalgia (headache)
- Vertigo (dizziness)
- Insomnia (sleep disorders)
- Sexual appetence disorder (sexual listlessness).
- Burnout syndrome
