Every year April is observed internationally as Stress Awareness Month, a time geared towards spreading awareness about the impact of stress and ways individuals can manage stress.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress is a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. It is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives.

Everyone has experienced stress at some point in their life. Whether it is due to financial challenges, work-related or other external factors, here are some common signs associated with stress:

Acne

Stress has been long associated with the worsening of some skin conditions or irritation such as acne.

Acne is a skin condition that occurs with hair follicles become plugged and dead skin which causes whiteheads, blackheads and pimples.

Studies have shown that stress can cause aggravated acne breakouts in people who are already suffering from the skin condition.

When individuals are stressed, it causes the body to produce androgen hormones increasing the production of oil glands and air follicles that result in the clogging of pores.

Headaches

According to Medical News Today, ongoing or sudden stress can trigger a headache, such as a tension headache. Tension headaches are a common type of headache that generally causes pressure on the forehead and temples.

Change in appetite

Everyone responds differently to stress. When some people are stressed, their appetite for certain foods such as sugars, calories and fat.

These food choices are not generally recommended for a healthy lifestyle, therefore they may lead to health complications in the long term such as obesity and diabetes.

For others, being stressed may result in a loss of appetite. The physical symptoms that are associated with stress can make food unappealing for some people.

Depression

Stress is generally associated with depression. Research has shown that stress disrupts an individual’s coping mechanisms which generally help to revive their mood.

If they experience low mood for a prolonged period, it can also cause individuals to become withdrawn from family and friends which can lead to them being in a depressive state.

Depression can lead to several emotional and physical problems.

Low energy

As established earlier stress can have several impacts on the mind and body.

One such impact is fatigue. Fatigue refers to a feeling of extreme tiredness and a lack of energy to complete daily tasks.

Persons who experience stress-related fatigue generally experience dizziness, inability to concentrate, slowed reflexes, lack of motivation, moodiness and irritability.