Like the infamous thief in the night, chronic stress doesn’t always reveal itself, at least not all at once. Most of the time, it builds up over time, and you won’t even notice that you’re suffering from it. If you haven’t been feeling like yourself for quite some time, and you barely know why, stress could be piling up. A few lifestyle changes might be in order, complemented with products like 25x full spectrum kratom to help lessen mental and physical load.
Understanding Chronic Stress and the Importance of Recognizing the Signs
You might be experiencing stress every day, but unlike the regular kind, chronic stress doesn’t pass once a stressful situation resolves. It usually locks your body in a prolonged state of tension, impacting your body, mood, and mind.
Why does it matter to know the signs?
- Avoid problems brought on by a lack of motivation, social withdrawal, and poor decision-making.
- Prevent the onset of serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, and mental health disorders.
- Receive immediate treatment or therapy to stop further damage.
Symptoms of chronic disease are usually treated like they’re a normal part of life. If you don’t get the help or relief that you need quickly, your overall well-being will be affected significantly.
What Are Indicators of Chronic Stress?
Persistent Fatigue
There’s fatigue, and then there’s a kind where you’re just tired all day, from the moment you wake up right through to bedtime.
- Struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep
- Never feeling fully rested even after a night’s rest
- Barely function without energy drinks or caffeine
Weakened Immune System
Unless you’re sickly or weak to begin with, getting sick more than usual can be a sign of chronic stress. The same is true if recovery takes a long time.
- Frequently experience skin breakouts or allergies
- Colds, sore throats, and other flu-like symptoms don’t seem to go away
- Healing from cuts and wounds takes longer than usual
Anxiety and Restlessness
Stress tends to trigger anxiety, but if you’re struggling to relax even when nothing bad is happening, something else is going on.
- Feeling tense for no apparent reason
- Worrying for nothing and thinking crazy thoughts
- Can’t calm down or sit still
- Not even the things you love can help you relax
Brain Fog
Failure to concentrate or focus has a detrimental effect on work or school. It doesn’t help if your memory is anything but clear most of the time.
- Easily lose track of time or miss appointments
- Difficulty following conversations or focusing on assigned tasks
- Make many mistakes even when doing routine tasks
Self-Care Strategies to Deal with Chronic Stress
If you’re experiencing any of the signs listed above, it’s time to give your lifestyle a major overhaul. Failure to bring balance back could be disastrous.
- Establish a routine to wind down at the end of the day and strictly stick with it.
- Do some physical activities that can reduce stress hormones.
- Prioritize your time and energy, and avoid doing more than necessary.
- Pencil in schedule to unplug from social media, work, and other activities that trigger stress.
- Practice mindfulness techniques, such as journaling, meditation, or deep breathing.
- Talk about your stressors, whether with a friend, a therapist, or a support group.
Failure to recognize the signs and find appropriate solutions can be life-changing, but not in a good way. So, take time to find out if what you’re experiencing goes beyond the normal kind of stress. If you’re looking to incorporate herbal supplements in the lifestyle changes you want to make, explore what kratom offers.