Diagnosis

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If you are suffering from stress, you may be experiencing a variety of symptoms that feel severe enough to prompt you to see a health care professional. These include:

• headaches

• frequent upset stomach, indigestion, gas pain, diarrhea or appetite changes

• feeling as though you could cry

• muscular tension

• tightness in your chest and a feeling as though you can't catch you breath

• feeling nervous or sad

• irritability and anger

• having problems at work or in your normal relationships

• sleep disturbance: either insomnia or hypersomnia (inability to sleep or sleeping too much)

• apathy—lack of interest, motivation or energy

• mental or physical fatigue

• frequent illness

• hives or skin rashes

• tooth grinding

• feeling faint or dizzy

• ringing in the ears

• disruptions in your menstrual cycle or unusually severe PMS or menopausal symptoms

There is no specific test to diagnose stress. Typically, your health care professional conducts a variety of tests (which may include a personal and family health history, blood and urine tests and other assessments) to rule out various medical conditions.

Because your symptoms may be similar to those of depression, your health care professional should also evaluate your mental state to determine if you may be suffering from a depressive or anxiety disorder. Symptoms associated with stress, anxiety and sleeplessness, for example, typically subside when the stress triggering them subsides. When these same symptoms are caused by depression or another mood disorder, however, they may not go away without medication or therapy.

If stress is identified as the culprit for your symptoms, you may want to ask your health care professional for stress management strategies and consider ways to control the stressors in your life—before your health is affected.