Eight Signs of Stress

Recognize and neutralize the effects of mental and emotional strain.

- Alyssa Jung

1 Unusual Weight Changes

“Stress triggers the release of the hormone cortisol, which changes the way you metabolize fat, protein and carbs, leading to weight gain or loss,” says Dr. Shanna Levine, a primary care physician and clinical instructor of medicine at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine in New York. Stress can also cause you to overeat or undereat.

WHAT TO DO: Snack on nuts. The protein will help if you’re undereating, and the fibre will fill you up if you’ve been bingeing.

2 A Fuzzy Brain

Too much cortisol can make it harder to concentrate and cause memory problems, anxiety and depression, says Levine.

WHAT TO DO: Try to relax until you regain your focus. Practise closing your eyes and concentrate only on your breath.

3 An Outbreak of Hives