The symptoms of stress

We are all affected by stress at times – some more often than others. Stress can have a variety of causes: Work, relationship, illness, just to name a few. But sometimes we get stressed, seemingly for no real reason. Especially after a year of being in our new “normal life” now, we all feel the strain a little more than usual. And with strain often comes stress.

But what exactly does stress look like and what are the symptoms? We have summarized the most common symptoms and how you can address them.

Poor sleep

One of the first signs that you may be stressed is a decrease in your sleep quality. This can be particularly debilitating, as the more tired you become, the more your stress levels increase – a vicious cycle.

Not only is a good night’s rest crucial to our overall health and well-being (as it allows your brain and body to recharge), but it can also help you manage daily stress more easily without feeling agitated.

When our sleep rhythm is regularly disturbed, our mind starts running at full speed even before we fall asleep. Thoughts like “I know for a fact that I’ll wake up a few times during the night” or “If I don’t fall asleep fast enough, I won’t get enough sleep” take hold and keep us awake even longer.

As our lifestyles shift toward healthier habits, prescription medications for better sleep no longer seem to fit our needs. Instead, people are turning to natural alternatives that have been shown to help improve sleep, including lavender, for example.

CBD is another alternative: by taking CBD a few hours before bed, you can help your body balance itself (a process called homeostasis), which will help you establish a healthier sleep cycle.

Change in appetite

Another common symptom of stress is a change in appetite and eating habits. People with increased stress levels often report that they feel less hungry and that even smelling food makes them nauseous. On the other hand, others report that stress causes them to overeat, and often this involves sugary or fatty foods.

It has not yet been conclusively proven that CBD can have an effect on our appetite. However, this study has shown that CBD can influence serotonin levels and thus could curb appetite.

In general, CBD may not directly increase or decrease appetite, but as a strong regulator, CBD interacts with hormones that do.

Hair loss

In extreme cases of constantly elevated stress levels, people can experience hair loss. This is especially common in younger women.

The report states that in some cases, the immune system can attack hair follicles when stress levels are constantly elevated. In other cases, “significant stress pushes a large number of hair follicles into a dormant phase.” After a few months, this leads to hair loss as the hair grows out.

Unrest

When we feel stressed throughout the day, we are more likely to feel restless and especially exhausted in the evening.

Normally, restlessness results not only from stress, but also from an imbalance in the body. Whenever our body and mind are out of balance, it manifests as stress and we feel more vulnerable to the smallest inconveniences.

Can CBD provide relief?

As mentioned earlier, CBD can help you establish a healthy sleep routine, as well as achieve overall body balance. Of course, as with any lifestyle change, routine is key to seeing results, so don’t expect to see immediate changes once you start using CBD. Nonetheless, CBD can be a great addition to your morning routine for a more relaxed start to the day.


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