Signs and symptoms of stress?

Many of the outward signs of stress are readily noticeable, although the indications will vary considerably between individuals.  Stress triggers a number of changes in the body's processes.  These changes are often complex and may be categorised as:

Emotional: frustration, nervousness, depression, worrying tension, mood swings, easily discouraged, crying spells, irritability, dread, helplessness
 
Mental: forgetfulness, poor concentration, confusion, making mistakes, negative attitude, boredom, lethargy, lack of motivation, accident prone

Behavioural: deteriorating relationships with colleagues, irritability, indecisiveness, absenteeism, excessive smoking, excessive drinking, overeating, etc

Physical: headaches, dizziness, teeth grinding, insomnia, stomach problems, frequent colds and general aches and pains

Social: Isolation, lashing out, clamming up, lowered sex drive, nagging, less contact with friends and colleagues

Stress, when prolonged or particularly intense, may lead to longer term health problems such as

• high blood pressure
• heart disease
• ulcers
• thyroid disorders
• gastrointestinal disturbances
• psychological effects, such as anxiety and depression

Stress can also have detrimental consequences for your team and the University. It can lead to

• an increase in sickness absence, which can result in workloads being shared among the other staff in your team and possibly causing them stress
• reduced staff morale
• reduced staff performance
• staff seeking alternative employment, giving the University the expense of recruiting, inducting, and training replacement staff