Do you have stress?  You may if you experience these symptoms.   Some of the symptoms may be due to illness (not just stress), but stress can further aggravate what you feel.

What is the purpose of stress? Back when people were still hunting for food, stress was very important for survival. It was a response to danger that increased all the functions necessary for running away to safety.  Hormones surged to increase heart rate & breathing rate. Today, our bodies don't know the difference between the stress we feel from deadlines, and the stress from just barely escaping a car accident. Both things trigger the hormone release, but the context where they are released determines if our stress is positive or negative.  Running and reaching safety is good.  Constantly feeling pressured from daily life makes hormone levels stay high, which is bad. The latter eventually leads to health problems.

What illness may come from stress? Along with the symptoms listed below, stress can also cause:

Cancer and heart disease are the leading killers in North America.  This is why we must learn to manage our stress levels.

Some symptoms of stress: