Long Term Physical Symptoms

These occur where your body has been exposed to adrenaline over a long period. One of the ways adrenaline prepares you for action is by diverting resources to the muscles from the areas of the body which carry out body maintenance. This means that if you are exposed to adrenaline for a sustained period, then your health may start to deteriorate. This may show up in the following ways:

* Insomnia
* change in appetite
* sexual disorders
* aches and pains
* frequent colds
* illnesses such as:
o asthma
o back pain
o digestive problems
o headaches
* feelings of intense and long-term tiredness

Internal Symptoms of Long Term Stress

When you are under stress or have been tired for a long period of time you may find that you are less able to think clearly and rationally about problems. This can lead to the following internal emotional 'upsets':

* Worry or anxiety
* Feeling out of control or overwhelmed by events
* Confusion, and an inability to concentrate or make decisions
* Mood changes:
o Restlessness
o Helplessness
o Impatience & irritability
o Hostility
o Frustration
o Depression
* Feeling ill
* Being more lethargic
* Changing eating habits
* Difficulty sleeping
* Reduced sex drive
* Drinking more alcohol and smoking more
* Relying more on medication