What are the signs 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 include:

Emotional	Mental
frustration nervousness depression worrying tension mood swings easily discouraged crying spells irritability dread helplessness	forgetfulness poor concentration confusion making mistakes negative attitude boredom lethargy lack of motivation accident prone
Behavioural	Physical
deteriorating relationships with colleagues irritability indecisiveness absenteeism excessive smoking excessive drinking overeating	headaches dizziness teeth grinding insomnia stomach problems frequent colds 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 colleagues 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

Causes

Find out more about common causes of work-related stress in staff.