Articles
Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior
Common effects of stress
Stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Knowing common stress symptoms can help you manage them. Stress that's not dealt with can lead to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes.
| On your body | On your mood | On your behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Headache | Anxiety | Overeating or undereating |
| Muscle tension or pain | Restlessness | Angry outbursts |
| Chest pain | Lack of motivation or focus | Drug or alcohol misuse |
| Fatigue | Memory problems | Tobacco use |
| Change in sex drive | Feeling overwhelmed | Avoiding friends and staying at home |
| Stomach upset | Grumpiness or anger | Exercising less often |
| Sleep problems | Sadness or depression | |
| Getting sick easier due to a weaker immune system |
