Six Hidden Reasons Why You Could Be Feeling Stressed

Stress is the body's natural response to threats, danger, overworking, and overwhelming life events. Stress-related symptoms can vary in degree, type, and intensity and often manifests when an individual encounters tension. Not all people experience symptoms of stress for the same reasons; everyone is unique and has their motivators for high stress levels. However, when someone experiences frequent stressful situations and undergoes stress for an extended period, a more extensive culprit may be to blame. Furthermore, high stress levels can increase susceptibility to various mental, physical, and emotional symptoms.

Why is confronting and addressing stress relevant?

Dealing with stress head-on can be challenging, but in many cases, it can reduce the adverse impacts on your health. It might feel more straightforward to pretend your stress doesn't exist, but recognizing and learning how to control stress (and its symptoms) can benefit your long-term physical and mental health. 

Acute stress is your body's way of helping you deal with a potentially threatening situation. When your "fight or flight" instinct occurs, your sympathetic nervous system triggers the release of cortisol and adrenaline, also known as the stress hormones. Both chemicals give your body the energy and alertness to flee from a ferocious predator or fight a rival. However, for many people, everyday occurrences like coping with an irritable boss at work, managing conflicts with family, or a tense conversation with a spouse can be enough to jumpstart this response. 

What we perceive as “stress” is a result of this fight or flight response, and the effects of stress can stick with you after being removed from the situation. Even though stress is a natural human experience, it can complicate your health and cause dangerous physical symptoms like high blood pressure in the long run if it becomes chronic. 

What are the dangers of stress?

Ongoing stress is linked to a plethora of health problems and conditions. The health concerns linked to stress include, but aren’t limited to: 

• Chest pains 
• High blood pressure
• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Heart disease
• Inflammation
• Muscle tension
• Rashes
• Acne 
• Irritable bowel syndrome 

According to the National Institute for Mental Health, many individuals who regularly experience stress are also more vulnerable to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Confronting and managing   stress may be challenging if you're unsure how to start, but it's also an endeavor that can have payoffs for your overall well-being. 

Six hidden causes behind stress

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A negative inner circle

The individuals you surround yourself with may be significantly affecting your mental health. When you're around negative people who don't uplift or encourage you to become your best self, your relationships and time spent with them may not be healthy. Sometimes it's difficult to acknowledge when a person in your life has a negative influence on you, especially if they are a family member or friend. 

In addition, if the people in your inner circle conflict with your values or ethics, you might experience a long period of stress. The natural urge to be accepted by the people you care about might lead you to behave in a way that doesn't feel authentic, causing feelings of self-doubt and persistent stress. The pressure to act in a certain way or avoid upsetting others can leave you constantly feeling on edge, which can be draining. 

Messy environments

The quality of one's environment may be missed when discussing what causes stress. On the surface, it may seem insignificant, but the environment you work and live in can set the tone for how you feel. Spending long hours in a cluttered, messy space might make it hard to relax. Instead of focusing, you may be plagued by questions about when you'll clean up and how. 

Even if you're not particularly bothered by a messy space, your ability to unwind and feel removed from the stressors of daily life may be inhibited by an environment that feels chaotic. Although they may not contribute to stress independently, unclean environments can exacerbate stress from other areas of life. For example, you might feel stressed about taking out the trash if you're busy most of the day. You might let your trash sit for a while, which could worsen your stress. 

Perfectionism

Striving for success and having ambition and goals are often considered admirable traits. However, ambition and the desire to succeed can be unhealthy if it negatively impacts your mental health. In many cases, this form of extremism manifests in perfectionism. 

Although it can be tempting to push yourself past your limits to get a job promotion or finish a project, it’s important to remember that no one is perfect. When you routinely expect perfection, you may experience disappointment, even after positive achievements. Over time, perfectionism can generate stress and further impede your ability to think clearly. 

Attachments to technology

Technology is used by billions of people worldwide. While it has many benefits, technology can have its pitfalls when misused. Feeling obsessed with checking social media, emails, or messages can cause stress. Engaging in these activities in moderation may have positive impacts, but excess time spent on screens can be unhealthy and may contribute to mental health conditions like eating disorders.

In some cases, taking a break from using electronic devices can be beneficial. The internet may contain arguments, distressing news, and scary images or videos that can cause you to feel disconnected from reality. Feeling too "plugged in" can make it hard to focus on the present moment. You might worry about people you've never met or feel you must obtain a certain standard of body, appearance, or style to be likable. Although avoiding technology altogether may be impossible, consider taking a day or two to recuperate after using the internet excessively. 

Overextension of self

The fear of missing out can occur in multiple areas of life. You might feel eager to enrich your life with positive experiences, which can be healthy. However, if you're overextending yourself to the point where you are experiencing overwhelming work stress or can't cope with all your responsibilities, you might be at risk of mental burnout, which is an extreme consequence of chronic stress. Practice saying "no" and knowing when to take time for yourself. There may be many enriching opportunities in life, but it can be tricky to take advantage of them if you're not doing well on a personal level. Choosing to prioritize the needs of others and the fear of missing out over your well-being can leave you feeling overworked and lonely, which can be a source of stress.

Negative self talk

The way you talk to yourself can have a significant impact. It may be easy to feel cheerful and easy-going when everything is going as you want. However, remaining self-assured during challenging times is often difficult. Reassuring yourself and maintaining positivity can allow you to keep your mindset on your goals.  

Counseling options for stress management 

If you are facing a stressful situation or obstacle in your life, you don't have to navigate these concerns alone. Having a support system can help you decrease stress and remind you of the reasons you continue trying to move forward. Therapy can be something to look forward to. In addition, if you don't feel you have time to add another responsibility to your schedule right now, you might find online therapy more convenient. 

Through an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can meet with a counselor from home through phone, video, or live chat sessions. In addition, you can choose an appointment at a time that works for you, with many online therapists offering sessions outside of standard business hours. 

Online therapy has also been proven effective for treating mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, which may cause heightened stress levels. One study found that internet-based interventions could also be as effective as face-to-face options for treating prolonged or chronic stress. Even without a diagnosed mental illness, a therapist can offer support, an outside perspective, and resources to support you. In addition to speaking with a trained professional through in-person or online therapy, it may be beneficial to seek medical advice from your healthcare provider. Your doctor can help assess how stress may have impacted your physical health and rule out underlying causes of your stress symptoms.