Psychological pressures

Symptoms of Psychological Stress

The symptoms of this condition can be divided into psychological and physical groups, as follows:

• Psychological Symptoms

The main psychological symptoms include feelings of:

1. Anxiety.
2. Fear.
3. Depression.
4. Frustration.
5. Sadness.
6. Irritability.
7. Anger.
8. Panic attacks.
9. Insomnia.

• Physical Symptoms

The most prominent include:

1. Headaches.
2. Nausea.
3. Indigestion, along with other digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, and bloating.
4. Sweating.
5. Shortness of breath and rapid breathing.
6. Rapid heartbeat with chest pain.
7. Weakened immune system.
8. High blood pressure.
9. Muscle tension.
10. Teeth grinding.
11. Various body pains.

Behavioral Complications of Psychological Stress

When this response occurs, it may lead to behavioral complications including:

• Social withdrawal and deterioration of relationships with others.
• Inability to make decisions and loss of flexibility.
• Overeating or developing eating disorders.
• Excessive shopping or internet browsing.
• Smoking.
• Using sedatives without consulting a doctor.

Self-Help Methods to Cope with Stress

Here are key methods you can adopt to face and overcome psychological stress:

• Identify Stress Causes and Work on Changing Them

If you have many tasks at work causing stress, try organizing them by priority and eliminate some of the less important tasks.

• Exercise

Exercise helps improve control over stress symptoms and enhances mood by triggering the release of hormones called endorphins.

• Meditate

Research shows that meditation helps reduce stress symptoms and improves stress management. We remind you to download the Tawazon app to enjoy various meditations and podcasts and gain comprehensive information about different meditation types.

• Eat a Balanced Healthy Diet

Eating a nutrient-rich diet along with adequate water intake improves mood and supports mental health.

When to Seek Medical Treatment for Stress

If you feel overwhelmed by stress to the point of being unable to cope, or if you start using sedatives without medical advice, you should consult a doctor. The following psychological therapies are commonly used to treat this condition:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): aims to change the way you think about situations that cause stress.
• Brief Interpersonal Counselling: helps those under stress express their feelings and find ways to deal with stressful situations.