Sometimes it may not be clear where stress is coming from and how it is affecting your body. Learn about symptoms of stress.

Stress can cause many different symptoms in your body. This may include:

• An increased heartbeat
• A headache
• A stiff neck or tight shoulders
• Back pain
• Fast breathing
• Sweating, and sweaty palms
• An upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea
• Lack of appetite or eating more than usual

There are things to look for that can help you understand if you are stressed.

Over time, stress can take a toll on your immune system, heart, muscles, stomach and more. It can also affect the way you think, act and feel.

Understanding what causes stress for you can help to lower stress levels or to avoid it. For example, keep a record to track times and instances when you feel stressed out. Write down:

• What you think may have triggered the stress.
• How you felt and reacted in response to the stressful situation.
• What you did to cope with the stressful situation.

There are ways to help you cope with your current stress levels and help you prepare for future stressors. There’s no one right way to deal with stress. So, finding a few different ways to identify, measure and track stress can help.