Stress is a part of everyday life in our increasingly busy lives. No matter how
well-adjusted, healthy, fortunate, or optimistic we are, everyone feels stressed out occasionally.
While inevitable, it isn’t always bad. Stress, in manageable doses, can motivate us to push through difficult situations and get things done.
However, prolonged stress can take a toll on our mental and physical health, resulting in
conditions from high blood pressure to depression.
Chronic stress increases the stress hormone cortisol and reduces serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters in the brain, and these factors have been linked to depression.
Depression negatively impacts your self-image, daily routines, and relationships. It can even be life-threatening, so you should recognize when your stress has progressed into depression.
Here’s how you can tell that you’re more than just stressed out.
1 – You’ve Withdrawn from Socializing
Imagine you have plans to meet up with some friends after work, but you’ve had a stressful day.
Typically, you’d look forward to getting together for some drinks to decompress
and get your mind off things. But now, you would rather cancel your plans so that you can get more work done or go to bed and crawl under the covers.
That’s perfectly normal behavior. In fact, alone time is a great way to de-stress.
And if you’re introverted, forcing yourself into social situations might drain you even more.
It becomes concerning when you start isolating completely,
which can signify that your stress is leading to depression.
If you find yourself withdrawing from social situations altogether, especially with friends or family that you usually enjoy being around, you may be dealing with more than just stress.
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Very accurate