What are the physical signs of stress?

by | Mental Health, Videos

What are the signs of stress? They can be broken into psychological and physical.

Let’s talk about physical. Physical signs of stress typically can be broken down into sudden onset and longer-term. So longer-term physical signs of stress would be sleep disturbance, either trouble falling asleep, or waking up in the middle of the night. More episodic symptoms such as, a butterfly feeling in your stomach, which many of us would have experienced before. For example, prior to exams, having tremors, having the sensation of your heart racing, which could almost feel like a panic attack. And finally hyperventilation. Breathing excessively, having trouble feeling like you’re unable to get your oxygen. That hyperventilation is a typical physical sign of stress.

Dr Matthew Cullen, Psychiatrist, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney