Anxiety Question & Answers - Recent questions and answers in Stress

Answered: Is Trazodone effective in combination with SSRI drugs

Fri, 08 Dec 2017 06:41:24 +0000

Trazodone is mainly helpful for insomnia. It can be combined with SSRIs, but there is a risk for serotonin syndrome with the combination. The other rare side effect is priapism. It works on different serotonin receptors from the SSRIs. See here for more information: https://anxietyboss.com/anxiety-treatments/prescription-drugs/#trazodone

Answered: Am I overthinking or may I have anxiety?

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 03:28:25 +0000

You may be exhibiting symptoms of an emerging anxiety disorder. Certainly, the triggers could be all the stressors and changes you have experienced in your early adult life. Quiting your job due to your distress and symptoms could be another telltale sign of an emerging anxiety disorder. It's a good idea to meet with your doctor, and therapy would be a good first option. In the meantime, please take the anxiety test to see how severe your symptoms are now, and you will also get an initial plan to address your anxiety symptoms: https://anxietyboss.com/test/

Good luck, and let us know how you are doing.

Answered: Why is it that I get stressed out and anxious when I'm on vacation?

Sat, 22 Apr 2017 16:06:44 +0000

It's interesting that some people get stressed-out and anxious while on vacation. This phenomenon is due to the fact that while you are anxious and stressed, your body is in the fight or flight mode, where you are revved-up to either fight or work through the stress (ie staying up all night to meet project deadlines) or running away or avoiding the stress (ie actively getting out of projects with difficult coworkers). So in essense, the fight or flight response is your body's solution to dealing with stress and anxiety, as your body is gearing-up to meet the challenges of the stressors.

However, when you are on vacation and the stressors of work and people are gone, somebody forgot to tell your body that you are on vacation, and it therefore continues to function in the fight or flight response, especially if you had been exposed to chronic stressors. It is as if your body gets used to being in this ramped-up state, and does not know when to stop, even when the chronic stressors are removed.

So the reason you get stressed-out and anxious while on vacation is that you need to help your body cool down and reduce its activity, as it still thinks you are embattled with multiple stressors.

You have to tell your body it is on vacation, and you need to perform relaxation techniques to calm down your body. If you find your thoughts are contributing to your anxiety, then these relaxation techniques can also help to calm those down too. Here is a link detailing the various relaxation techniques: https://anxietyboss.com/anxiety-treatments/relaxation-strategies/

Answered: Which is the most stressed out city in America?

Fri, 02 Dec 2016 03:26:10 +0000

According to a recent study by WalletHub, the most stressed-out city in America in 2016 is Detroit, Michigan. Detroit scored in the worst 5 cities in each of the following categories: crime rate, divorce rate, poverty rate, and lowest credit score.

Answered: How to calm down when you're stressed out

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 05:59:58 +0000

When you are stressed-out, you can calm down immediately by performing diaphragmatic breathing. Other ways to calm down include progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, visualization, and yoga. Click on the following link to find out more: https://anxietyboss.com/anxiety-treatments/relaxation-strategies/

Answered: How to deal with nervousness before a job interview?

Sat, 13 Aug 2016 12:19:23 +0000

First off, consider taking KalmPro before going on your interview, to help calm your nerves so that you can focus on the job interview. KalmPro has natural herbal and nutritional supplements that can help to decrease your nervousness immediately, and also work long-term.

In addition, you can use various relaxation techniques to help you decrease your nervousness.

Here are more additional techniques you can use to help with nerves before your job interview.

Answered: Can I get stomach aches when stressed out?

Sun, 07 Aug 2016 13:41:35 +0000

Yes, you can get stomach aches when you are stressed out. Stress activates the fight or flight response, and this in turn shifts the body's resources from the non-essential systems for survival, such as the reproductive system and gastrointestinal system, to the systems needed for survival, such as the skeletal muscles and the cardiovascular system. This shift causes changes in the gastrointestinal system, which leads to symptoms such as stomach aches.

Answered: Can nervousness cause stomach upset?

Sun, 07 Aug 2016 05:47:53 +0000

Yes, nervousness can cause stomach upset. When you are nervous and anxious, this sets off the fight or flight response. This fight or flight response shifts the body's resources from the non-essential systems for survival, such as the gastrointestinal system and reproductive system, to the cardiovascular system and skeletal muscles. This shift leads to changes in the gastrointestinal system, such as stomach upset and stomach pain.

Answered: Is it better to know, or not know?

Tue, 14 Jun 2016 03:40:13 +0000

The answer to this question depends on whether you have debilitating anxiety or not. If you are anxious, then being in the know actually worsens and perpetuates your anxiety. Why is this? Well, as humans, we have an inherent need to know about things so that we can plan for them, and therefore control outcomes.

But when we are anxious, the intolerance of uncertainty becomes anxiety-provoking, and it is this intolerance of uncertainty that actually maintains the anxiety. In addition, we engage in behaviors to counteract the intolerance of uncertainty, such as checking behaviors and constantly researching the question at hand. So these behaviors also serve to maintain the negative cycle of anxiety.

So for someone with anxiety, it is better not to know, unless there is a safety issue. So what do you do when you are anxious, and you have to know about what is going on? Well, you don't engage in checking behaviors, and you try to redirect your thoughts so that you are not as worried.

Answered: Does stress and anxiety make your armpits sweat?

Thu, 02 Jun 2016 11:05:45 +0000

Yes, you can get an increase in sweating (including in your armpits) when you are anxious, stressed, or nervous. The reason for this is that stressors and your coping skills being overwhelmed can lead to the activation of the fight or flight system, where the amygdala is triggered. The amygdala in turn activates the sympathetic nervous system, which activates sweat glands to increase perspiration.

Answered: Can itching be caused by my psychological factors?

Tue, 24 May 2016 04:57:08 +0000

Yes, itching can be caused by psychological factors. So when you are stressed, it can induce what is called adrenergic pruritis. This is basically stress itching. And the itching can be reproduced by an injection of adrenaline, which is the stress hormone that is released into your bloodstream when you are stressed and anxious.

Thus, if you have stress itching, then the solution is to reduce your stress and anxiety. You can begin to determine your stress levels by taking the anxiety test, which will also show you how to begin to reduce your stress levels.

Answered: What can I do to make Facebook less stressful?

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 22:05:57 +0000

Facebook is a source of much stress, as people are spending so much time on it, reading and being offended by other people's posts. A good way to start to have less stress on Facebook is to unfriend all the "friends" you have, and only keep close family and friends. In fact, if your close friends and family are the source of your stress, then you may consider unfriending those family and close friends as well. By only keeping positive and close people as Facebook friends, you can then build on the caring and positive support group you need, as you are obviously in distress from all your time on Facebook. But the stress is not neccessarily about Facebook, but rather the people you interact with while online. By unfriending "friends" and negative people, then you don't have to expose yourself to all the petty statements and judgements made by people who are not worth your time anyways.

Technology was meant to enhance your life, not worsen it. Do yourself a favor and start unfriending your Facebook "friends."

Answered: Can being stressed out cause high blood pressure?

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 05:11:06 +0000

Yes, being stressed out can cause high blood pressure. When you are stressed, this sets off the fight or flight response. And this stress response continues until the stressor is dealt with or you find ways to cope with it. But if you don't get help for being stressed out, the stress response continues chronically, and this puts you at risk for developing high blood pressure. What happens is that when you are stressed out, then this sets off the amygdala, which in turn activates the sympathetic nervous system. When the sympathetic nervous system is set-off, it directly connects to the blood vessels and contricts most of them, and also increases the heart beat, thereby raising the blood pressure. Additionally, the sympathetic nervous system connects to the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline into the bloodstream. The adrenaline then travels throughout the body, and also functions to contrict most of the blood vessels and causes the heart to beat faster, thereby increasing blood pressure.

So when you are stressed out, it can lead to high blood pressure.

Answered: I'm all stressed out and anxious- what can I do to be happy?

Fri, 25 Mar 2016 05:10:07 +0000

Hello, and thank you for sharing. It sounds like the magnitude of your stressors is overwhelming your capacity to cope. If you have chronic stressors and are not able to reduce the effects of them, then you are at risk for developing anxiety and/or depression.

So you have a full plate due to your stressors. But the problem with having a full plate, or a full load, is that any minor stressors that come along will tip you over the edge, so that you may lose it at work, or get really mad and angry with a loved-one at home. When your plate is full, then you have no reserve to take on further stressors, no matter how small. So if your stress level is always at a 9 out of 10, then even a stressor that is mild will make your body think the stressor is a 10.

But the goal is not to eradicate all of your stress, as you need a moderate level of stress and anxiety to perform optimally. So if you have a panic attack on one end, or if you are comatose on the other end, then the outcome is the same...you have poor performance. So you still need a moderate level of stress to perform well.

But it's important to deal with your stressors as they occur. You might try exercising, or meditation. You may even try a natural supplement for anxiety, such as KalmPro. To start your path towards being happy, may I suggest you take the anxiety test here. This will get you started on the road back to happiness.

Sincerely,

Dr. Carlo

Answered: What happens when you get stressed out?

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 20:47:12 +0000

When you get stressed out, you get irritable, easily angered, low energy, appetite problems, sleep problems, muscle tension, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, muscle tremors, fatigue, sweating, poor concentration, poor performance, and digestive problems. When you get stressed out, your stressors overwhelm your capacity to cope with it. The only ways to not be so stressed out is to decrease your stressors, improve your coping skills, or both of these. Please visit the rest of AnxietyBoss.com for more information and help on being stressed out.

Answered: I'm stressed out for no reason- how is this possible?

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 14:24:01 +0000

If you are stressed out, then you have stressors that you are not able to deal with. In other words, your stress is greater than your capacity to cope with it. We all have stressors- such as school, work, paying bills, relationships, just to name a few. When you are stressed out, the stressors don't need to be negative... they can be positive things, but when you are juggling multiple things, then your plate becomes full, and you are not able to handle anymore. So when you have a full plate, and you add more things to it, then you become stressed out and overwhelmed.

So if you are stressed out, then you need to take inventory of all the items in your life that takes your mental and physical energy. But you can't take inventory of the things that stress you out if you are currently stressed out. So you need to utilize relaxation techniques to calm down. Once you are calm, then you can begin to take inventory of the things that indeed stressed you out. When you are calm, stressful things that were not apparent to you earlier will become more clear.

Answered: What is the most stressed out country?

Sat, 05 Mar 2016 14:52:44 +0000

The most stressed out country is Nigeria, according to a Bloomberg 2013 study. Countries were ranked based on the amount of stress in their living environments. The least stressed out country was Norway, at number 74. The United States was #54, United Kingdom was #56, Canada was #65, and Australia #70.

Answered: Stressed or stressed out- what is the difference?

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 14:51:51 +0000

There's no difference between stressed and stressed out. They both denote emotional strain and tension.

Answered: Is stressed out hyphenated?

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 14:31:17 +0000

Stressed out is not hyphenated, as stated in Oxford Dictionaries: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/stress?q=stressed+out&searchDictCode=all#stress__21

Answered: Can I get heart palpitations when stressed out?

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:40:30 +0000

Yes, you can get heart palpitations when you are stressed out. Heart palpitations are the feeling you get when your heart skips a beat, flutters, or beats too fast. When you are stressed or have anxiety, your fight or flight response is triggered, where your sympathetic nervous system is activated. The activated sympathetic nervous system then activates your heart, where it can beat faster and contract harder, leading to feelings of heart palpitations. The following video explains how the fight or flight response works:

A word of caution: if you do experience heart palpitations, it is very important that you visit your doctor for an evaluation to rule out any heart problems. After medical problems are ruled out, then it could be anxiety and stress, and a referral to a psychiatrist may be in order.

Answered: Can I get diarrhea when stressed out?

Mon, 08 Feb 2016 03:41:04 +0000

Yes, you can get diarrhea when you are stressed out. Studies show a relationship between diarrhea (a symptom of IBS-irritable bowel syndrome) and anxiety (Lee et al., 2009). Also, studies show that treating the anxiety can reduce the diarrhea associated with IBS (Lan et al., 2014).

So when you are stressed out and have diarrhea, you can address the diarrhea by reducing your stress. Various relaxation strategies can help to reduce your stress, and hence diarrhea.

References:

Efficacy of tandospirone in patients with irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea and anxiety. Lan L, Chen YL, Zhang H, Jia BL, Chu YJ, Wang J, Tang SX, Xia GD. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Aug 28;20(32):11422-8.

Irritable bowel syndrome is strongly associated with generalized anxiety disorder: a community study. Lee S, Wu J, Ma YL, Tsang A, Guo WJ, Sung J. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Sep 15;30(6):643-51.

Answered: Can I get chest pains when stressed out?

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:50:17 +0000

Yes, you can get chest pains when stressed out. When you are stressed out, you might experience panic attacks, which are intermittent and random episodes of chest pains, heart palpitations, tremors, voice quivering, knees shaking, tingling sensations in hands or feet, shortness of breath, and tunnel vision.

The following video explains more about stress, anxiety, and chest pain:

If you continue to get chest pains, it is recommended that you see your doctor to rule out any medical cause for your chest pain.

Answered: How to stop being stressed out about everything?

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 23:51:46 +0000

Let's say you have a lot on your plate, and you are juggling stress at work, stress at home, stress with your partner, and stress with your finances. So on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest stress and 10 being the highest stress, you rate yourself as a 7, given your stress load as mentioned above.

So you go through your days with a stress level of 7, which is a high stress level. So whenever you get even a small stress, such as misplacing your keys, this small stressor is enough to make you stressed out, and you have an exaggerated reaction to the small stressor.

So with a stress level of 7, any small stressor that you encounter will feel like a big stressor. The only way to stop being stressed out about everything is to decrease your overall stress level. Only when you stress level falls below 5 can you then begin to react appropriately to small problems, instead of treating them like big ones. But that is what happens when you are already at a high stress level...you are not able to handle any future stressors, no mattter how small.

You can decrease your overall stress levels by engaging in relaxation techniques, like diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, visualization, and yoga.

Please visit the rest of AnxietyBoss.com for more information and help on stress and anxiety.

Answered: Is there a how stressed out am I quiz?

Wed, 06 Jan 2016 01:05:52 +0000

Yes, you can take a quiz to find out how stressed out you are by clicking here.

Answered: My friend is really stressed out- how can I help?

Tue, 22 Dec 2015 04:36:19 +0000

You can help your stressed-out friend by being available and supportive. You can also help by using encouraging words as described in the following video:

Answered: How can I become less stressed out?

Sun, 20 Dec 2015 00:05:24 +0000

You can try some relaxation strategies to be less stressed, as detailed in the following videos on progressive muscle relaxation and diaphragmatic breating:

Answered: How to help a stressed out person?

Sat, 19 Dec 2015 23:59:25 +0000

If you care about this person who is stressed-out, then the best help you can provide is to be supportive. You might try just being there for them and listening. You might also try some encouraging words, as detailed in the following video:

Answered: What is the meaning of stressed out?

Sun, 13 Dec 2015 22:18:52 +0000

Being stressed out is the same as burnout. Burnout, or being stressed out, occurs when you have ever increasing amounts of stressors, and it overwhelms your ability to cope with them. Please watch the following video which explains burnout, or being stressed out:

Answered: Why is my wife always stressed out?

Sun, 13 Dec 2015 17:28:13 +0000

If your wife is stressed out, this should cue you in that you need to help and support your wife when she is in distress. If you really want to help her, then you should focus on her, not on you, and be as helpful as you can, even if she is letting you have it. You could be part of the problem, so now it is time to be part of the solution. Maybe you should take some time off from work, and see what she needs help with at home. Listen to her and hear her out- avoid blaming her. If you continue to have conflict, then a couples therapist may be needed.

Answered: What should I do when I am stressed out?

Sun, 06 Dec 2015 02:35:51 +0000

You should learn about coping skills and relaxation techniques, to help you deal with the stressors and reduce your anxiety levels. You can also learn more anxiety and stress by visiting AnxietyBoss.com. If you want self-help on anxiety and stress, then you can obtain Anxiety Protocol, an anxiety self-help book. If you want a natural solution to reduce your stress, then you ca consider taking KalmPro, an anxiety natural supplement.

Answered: Is President Obama stressed out?

Sat, 05 Dec 2015 03:34:54 +0000

It would appear to be the case, as recent pictures of President Obama show significant graying of his hair when compared to pictures of him taken before he took office. However, being stressed out plays a minor role in the premature graying of hair. The premature graying of hair depends more on genetics and family inheritance (McDonough and Schwartz, 2012).

However, extremely stressful jobs like the President of the United States can accelerate the rate of premature graying.. So it is worth handing stress so that you don't feel the negative effects of anxiety and stress on your body, such as premature graying of hair and hair loss.

Reference:

Premature hair graying. McDonough PH, Schwartz RA. Cutis. 2012 Apr;89(4):161-5.

Answered: Can eating make you stressed out?

Mon, 30 Nov 2015 04:15:46 +0000

Yes, eating can make you stressed-out. Eating can also be an indicator that you are already stressed-out, as some people cope with stress by eating comfort foods. Eating the right foods can help to make you less stressed- click here to find out more.

Answered: How to find out what you're stressed about?

Mon, 30 Nov 2015 00:18:52 +0000

To find out what you are stressed out about, you have to take inventory of all your responsibilities and burdens which your have to take care of on a daily basis. In this hyper-competitive world, many of us think we are invincible and able to carry any load with no problem. However, our bodies betray us when we take on more than we can handle, and our bodies rebel by breaking down. So when your body is stressed-out, you have to listen to that and start to take inventory about all your stressors.

You may find that it may not be just one stressor, but a whole bunch of them together that is causing you to be stressed. If it's just one or a whole bunch of stressors, then you have to decide if you will unburden yourself of that stressor, increase your coping skills, or a combination of the prior two choices.

You can start to cope now by instituting some immediate relaxation techniques to get your stress levels lowered now.

Answered: How to deal with a stressed out employee?

Sat, 28 Nov 2015 00:36:28 +0000

Dealing with stressed out employees is explained in detail here.

Answered: What is another word for stressed out?

Sat, 28 Nov 2015 00:32:36 +0000

Another word for stressed out is burnout. The following video explains how you become stressed out, or how you have burnout:

Answered: What are some gifts for someone who is stressed out?

Sat, 21 Nov 2015 23:19:22 +0000

Here are a couple of gifts for someone who is stressed out, and these gifts can lead to more happiness and less stress:

1) Anxiety Protocol- Anxiety Self-Help Book. The recipient can benefit from learning more about stress and anxiety. The more they learn about stress and anxiety, the better they will be able to help themselves overcome this.

2) KalmPro- Anxiety Natural Supplement. Natural supplements can help to eradicate stress and anxiety. Natural supplements are generally less expensive and have less side effects than prescription medications for anxiety.

Answered: Can being stressed out cause miscarriage?

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 03:34:59 +0000

The answer is yes. A study by Li and colleagues (2012) revealed that psychological stress is a risk factor of recurrent miscarriage. So if you are pregnant, it is important to deal with stress adequately. Please visit the rest of AnxietyBoss.com for more information and help on stress and anxiety.

Reference:

Relationship between psychological stress and recurrent miscarriage. Li W, Newell-Price J, Jones GL, Ledger WL, Li TC. Reprod Biomed Online. 2012 Aug;25(2):180-9.

Answered: How can i stop being stressed out?

Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:54:21 +0000

You can stop being stressed out by learning ways to cope with your stressors. AnxietyBoss.com (Anxiety Help Online) is a great online resource to help you learn ways to cope, so that you are not so stressed out.

You can also get the book Anxiety Protocol (Anxiety Self-Help Book). Anxiety Protocol goes into detail about what type of anxiety you have, and how to treat your particular type of anxiety.

Finally you can also consider taking KalmPro (Anxiety Natural Supplement). KalmPro has natural herbal and dietary supplements that have been shown in research studies to be effective for eradicating anxiety and stress.

Answered: Do you get stressed out easily?

Sun, 08 Nov 2015 02:18:57 +0000

If you are getting stressed out easily, then your coping skills may not be able to handle all the stressors you are encountering. Another reason why you might be stressed is that your anxiety is so severe that your body is manifesting the physical symptoms of anxiety, where your body has a stress response to the anxiety. If it is just a matter of better coping skills, then you can engage in various techniques to reduce your anxiety, such as progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, exercise, meditation, yoga, and guided imagery and visualization. If your anxiety is problematic, then you can engage in CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), medication treatment, or natural supplement treatment.

Answered: How do you handle a crisis?

Sat, 07 Nov 2015 22:05:25 +0000

How to Handle a Crisis

Answered: I have anxiety as I can't get a medical licence, can't get a residency, and can't get a job

Sat, 31 Oct 2015 13:27:49 +0000

Dear Dr. SD,

I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties with obtaining a medical residency in the States. For International Medical Graduates (IMGs), you have to apply for residencies that are not competitive with U.S. medical school graduates. The reality for IMGs is that you will not match into a residency slot if you have to compete with a U.S. medical school graduate for that same spot.

IMGs then are left to apply for the residency slots that the U.S. graduates do not fill. I'm assuming you had applied for residency positions in OB/Gyn, your medical specialty in India. Unfortunately, OB/Gyn is a competitive residency, and this will be mostly filled by U.S. graduates, and only by the most accomplished and dazzling IMGs that can even compete with them. Unfortunately, almost all of the procedure-oriented specialties will be very competitive, and your chances for matching into these slots are virtually nil.

So what's an unmatched IMG to do? Well, you have to play the numbers, and you may have to consider other medical specialties, which means throwing out your medical specialty training and experience of choice. If you look at the numbers, the residencies that have the most unfilled residency slots each year include the following specialties: family medicine and psychiatry. Family medicine and psychiatry residencies are frequently left with an abundance of unfilled residency slots. This is because U.S. graduates do not find these two specialties appealing, and this is in large part due to low compensation, low prestige, and in psychiatry's case, it being viewed as a pseudoscience.

So if you want to have a better chance of matching into a U.S. medical residency as an IMG, then you have to consider applying for both family medicine and psychiatry residencies. To relieve your anxiety and stress, may I suggest you visit the rest of AnxietyBoss.com.

Regards,
Dr. Carlo

Answered: Can you be stressed out and not know it?

Sat, 24 Oct 2015 16:46:45 +0000

Yes, you can be stressed out and not know it. For example, if you are a workaholic and cope with adversity by working longer hours, then you may become stressed out, as you ignore all the physical symptoms of stress on your body. Some people may also choose to not acknowledge their stress load, and choose to ignore the stressors and continue as if they are invincible and not susceptible to the effects of stress.

When you are stressed, your body reacts by activating the fight or flight response. This adrenaline response then induces multiple physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, shortness of breath, tingling and numbing sensations, lump in the throat, butterflies in the stomach, muscle tension, headaches, nausea and vomiting, tremors, sweating, tunnel vision, and hypervigilance.

But you ignore your stressors at your own peril. If you continue to not address your stress, then your body will rebel and you will become stressed out or burnt out, as the fight or flight response was only meant to be activated short term to deal with an imminent danger, and was not designed for chronic activation, as is seen in stress and anxiety (which activates the fight or flight response long term). So if you become stressed out or burnt out, then you will experience additional symptoms of irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, disrupted sleep, poor appetite, anxiety, depression, negativity, loss of feeling pleasure, and social isolation.

If you don't seek help when you are stressed out, then you will eventually develop clinical anxiety or depression, and this will lead to significant impairment of your functioning, such as relationship problems, job/school problems, and problems with self-care.

So if you are stressed out, it is important to know the symptoms of being stressed out, so that you can seek help to prevent the development of an anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder.

Answered: What does stressed out mean?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 03:57:42 +0000

Stressed out means burnt out or burnout. Being stressed-out means you have alot of stressors and your are not able to deal with all the pressure. Your coping skills and resources are not adequate enough to deal with all the stressors your are facing. And if this goes on for a long time, then there is only so much you can take- so you get stressed out or burnt out. Stressors can include burdens such as relationship problems, job problems, financial problems, and school problems, just to name a few.

When you are stressed out, you can have irritability, anxiety, depression, poor sleep, poor concentration, tiredness, poor appetite, and social isolation. When you are stressed out or burnt out, you may also meet criteria for an adjustment disorder. However, if you continue to have stressors and you do not address your symptoms of burnout, then you may go on to develop a more severe problem, such as depression or anxiety.

Answered: How can i tell if I'm stressed out?

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 03:38:13 +0000

Being stressed-out is the same as burnout. When you are faced with the burdens of stressors, such as relationship problems, financial problems, or work problems, you may have so much stressors that you are not able to cope with them. If you don't find a way to either decrease the stressors or to cope with them adequately, then prolonged exposure to the stressors can start to wear on you and break you down, and you may then develop burnout, which is another term for stressed-out.

The symtoms of burnout include irritability, fatigue, insomnia, poor concentration, poor appetite, anxiety, depression, anhedonia, negativity, and social isolation. Burnout or being stressed-out is where you also may meet criteria for an adjustment disorder, which is a mental health problem that precedes anxiety or depression. So if the stressors continue, and you still are not able to cope, then the burnout may develop into a depressive disorder or an anxiety disorder.

So if you do not decrease your stressors or build adequate coping skills when you are stressed-out, then this may development into depression or anxiety.

Answered: Cortisol exposure from stress has what effect on the body?

Mon, 12 Oct 2015 22:57:16 +0000

Stress will activate the amygdala, which then activates the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus will then release corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which travels to the pituitary, and this results in the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH travels to the outer part of the adrenal glands, the adrenal cortex, and this leads to the release of cortisol, one of the stress hormones.

In the short-term, when encountering a real threat, a quick boost of cortisol can enhance survival, as it increases blood glucose levels so that your muscles can have the energy neccessary to either fight or run from the danger.

However, when you have chronic stress that leads to chronic cortisol exposure, then this can have multiple negative effects on the body, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease and increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (Manenschijn et al., 2013). In addition, chronic cortisol exposure is associated with increased risk of stroke (Christensen et al., 2004).

References:

High long-term cortisol levels, measured in scalp hair, are associated with a history ofcardiovascular disease. Manenschijn L, Schaap L, van Schoor NM, van der Pas S, Peeters GM, Lips P, Koper JW, van Rossum EF. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 May;98(5):2078-83.

Serum-cortisol reflects severity and mortality in acute stroke. Christensen H, Boysen G, Johannesen HH. J Neurol Sci. 2004 Feb 15;217(2):175-80.

Answered: My girlfriend is stressed out- what can I do?

Fri, 09 Oct 2015 11:15:59 +0000

The first question to ask yourself is: are you the cause of her stress? Be honest now. If you are, then you need to take inventory of how your interactions with your girlfriend are causing her stress. Common relationship problems causing stress include dishonesty, invalidation, lack of intimacy, cheating, and financial problems. If you really want to help your girlfriend, then you need to take an honest look at yourself, and how you may be contributing to her stress.

In addition, it would be helpful to do things to make her day go by easier. Surprise her by taking her to lunch or dinner. Clean the house (women love it when men clean the house for them). Cook her a nice dinner. And the seemingly easiest one that men find so hard to do- talk to her and find out what is stressing her out. You will not be able to help her if you don't know what she sees as the problem.

Finally, to quantify how stressed she is, she could take an anxiety test.

Answered: Is it normal for hair to fall out when stressed?

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 02:51:57 +0000

When you are stressed- in other words, when your body reacts to major life events and stressors, then this can trigger hair loss (García-Hernández et al., 1999). Hair loss is also known as alopecia. Alopecia also commonly co-occurs with anxiety and depression.

So when you are stressed and your hair is falling out, then addressing your stressors and coping better can help to reduce your hair loss.

Reference:

Alopecia areata, stress and psychiatric disorders: a review. García-Hernández MJ, Ruiz-Doblado S, Rodriguez-Pichardo A, Camacho F. J Dermatol. 1999 Oct;26(10):625-32

Answered: What is stress?

Fri, 25 Sep 2015 03:00:13 +0000

Stress is your physical response to a threat or danger, which can be real or imagined. Stressors are adverse or demanding circumstances which cause stress. Stress is mediated by the fight or flight response, where your limbic system in the brain sets off your sympathetic nervous system in response to a threat. This signals the adrenal glands to release adrenaline into the bloodstream, and you get increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, muscles tension, high blood pressure, sweating, and increased clotting. Stress supercharges you to fight off or run from the threat.

So stress can occur even when the threats are not predators, such as breaking up with your partner, losing your job, thinking about aging, or having a bad day at work.

So the more you are exposed to stressors, the more stress you may have. Stressors can trigger an anxiety disorder, and stressors can also perpetuate (maintain, prolong) an anxiety disorder. In the end, stress (a physical response) is the end result of stressors (adverse circumstances), which often trigger and perpetuate an anxiety disorder. Therefore, stressors need to be addressed if you want to recover from an anxiety disorder, in addition to thinking more adaptive thoughts and not engaging in avoidant behaviors.

Answered: Can nervousness cause eye twitching?

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 02:10:03 +0000

The answer is yes- nervousness (anxiety) and stress can exacerbate eye twitching, also known as nystagmus. Stress and anxiety have a negative impact on nystagmus (Cham et al., 2013).

If you have nystagmus, it is recommended that you see your doctor, to rule out any medical problems that may be causing this symptom. If your doctor rules out a medical problem, then you can reduce your eye twitching by reducing your stress and treating your anxiety (nervousness).

Reference:

Oscillopsia and the influence of stress and motivation in fusion maldevelopment nystagmus syndrome. Cham KM, Anderson AJ, Abel LA. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013 Mar 19;54(3):2004-10.

Answered: Can nervousness cause muscle twitching?

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 01:46:46 +0000

Nervousness (anxiety) and stress can exacerbate muscle twitching, also known as fasciculation. The fasciculations associated with anxiety and stress usually occur in the legs, and is not associated with muscle weakness (Simon and Kiernan, 2013). Besides stress, other common exacerbating factors leading to muscle twitching include exercise, fatigue, and caffeine consumption.

So if you have muscle twitching, it is recommended that you see your doctor for an assessment, to rule out underlying medical conditions such as neuropathy or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). If your doctor has ruled out medical problems, then you can look at managing the exacerbating factors, such as reducing stress, treating your anxiety, getting enough rest, not exercising too strenuously, and reducing your consumption of caffeine.

Reference:

Fasciculation anxiety syndrome in clinicians. Simon NG, Kiernan MC. J Neurol. 2013 Jul;260(7):1743-7.