Wikipedia had described stress as a biological term for the consequences of the failure of a human or animal to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats to the organism, whether actual or imagined. It includes a state of alarm and adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and exhaustion. Common stress symptoms include irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physical reactions, such as headaches and elevated heart rate.  Stress can impact your body in many ways and cause a wide variety of symptoms.

Here are some of the most common changes in attitudes and behavior that people experience when they are under great pressure which I’ve extracted from a very practical book  Minimize Stress, Maximize Success, effective strategies for realizing your goals by Clare Harris (2003). Which ones apply to you?

1. being irritable and snappy with colleagues
2. coping at work but taking it out on loved ones at home
3. sudden explosive temper although you’re usually a calm person
4. becoming perfectionist – `good enough” just won’t do
5. avoiding challenging tasks – doing small, unimportant things instead
6. finding multi-tasking hard – having a pressing wish to have a single focus
7. becoming distant and avoiding contact with workmates
8. becoming hypersensitive to criticism
9. trying to do everything yourself
10. feeling panicky
11. feeling tearful
12. relying on alcohol
13. overdosing on junk food, chocolate or coffee
14. wanting to walk away from your work, when you used to enjoy it
15. working longer hours without feeling you’re getting anywhere • going over and over things relentlessly in your mind
16. waking in the night with a head full of work