First Responders First - Red flags of stress

Stress is the body’s response to any disturbances in the body and may take the form of emotional, physiological, behavioral, and cognitive stressors.

Stress in small amounts is good as it can provide motivation and endurance to overcome challenges. However, stress in excessive amounts or for prolonged periods can have a damaging effect on the body.

These stressors often occur from concerns related to finances, job performance, relationships, and health. When crisis situations arise, such as disasters, these stressors can compound and overlap.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Erik, an ICU nurse, was caught between anxiety about bringing the infection home, especially to his pregnant wife and unborn child, and working more as needed to support his clients and teammates.

Like many others, he made the difficult decision to isolate and live separately. The loss of the physical presence of loved ones, as well as other stressors, can intensify and build upon one another.

Prolonged stress can increase anxiety and depression, and can lead to panic attacks, heart disease, diabetes, or suicide.

In these periods of prolonged or excessive stress, it is crucial to recognize the body’s warning signs of impending stress and seek support from colleagues, family, or professionals to intervene as soon as possible.

These signals reveal that the body is struggling and needs help. So, what are the warning signs of stress?

In general, common signs can present themselves in four areas. First are emotional indicators and often present as negative emotions.

These may include feeling irritable, angry, or frustrated in social situations. Experiencing emotions like anxiety, fear, guilt, or sadness are also common.

Other signs include feeling disconnected from others, losing interest in daily activities, or feeling numb and unable to feel joy or sadness.

Second are physiological indicators and can include physical distress symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, diarrhea, muscle tension, or neck or back pains.

Other common signs include a rapid heart rate, palpitations, tremors, chills, sweatiness, or jitteriness. Another common sign is a loss of appetite or overconsuming comfort foods.

Third are behavioral indicators and often include sleep disruptions, such as having difficulty falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much.

There may be changes in energy levels like experiencing fatigue or bursts of energy. Crying spells with or without a known reason can also occur.

Other signs include having difficulty accepting help or helping others, spending increasing amounts of time alone, and avoiding family and friends.

Another common sign can include engaging in risky behaviors, like taking unnecessary risks, refusing to follow directions, or increased use of negative coping strategies.

And finally, the fourth are cognitive indicators and may include difficulties with concentration and memory, feeling confused or disoriented, and struggling with decision making.

Though these are the common signs of stress, keep in mind that stress can manifest differently in every person. The degree of stress depends on the person’s perception of the stress, their mood, and adverse life events such as past exposure to other traumatic events, chronic illness, or financial instability.

It is important to recognize personal warning signs. Developing self-awareness of personal indicators and making conscious efforts to recharge can help give the body the breaks it needs while you also build your own resilience.

Sharing personal warning signs with teammates and learning about theirs can help keep stress levels in check. Often, healthcare providers can identify warning signs in others better than within themselves.

##SummaryAs a quick recap, stress is the body’s response to any disturbance in the body and can manifest itself in various ways.

In small amounts, stress can help with motivation in overcoming challenges. However, high amounts or prolonged periods of stress can be detrimental.

These stressors are often derived from anxieties involving life circumstances like relationships, finances, health, and job-related responsibilities.

The body is not equipped to handle continual or increasing amounts of stress and may eventually break down, contributing to serious issues like anxiety, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and suicide.

Therefore, it is important to recognize the warning signs of stress and intervene as soon as possible. These common warning signs can present themselves in four areas: emotional, physiological, behavioral, and cognitive.

Though these are common warning signs of stress, it is important to note that stress can manifest itself differently in each person.

Recognizing and responding appropriately to your individual warning signs will best prepare your body and mind to cope with stress.