How does your body tell you that you're stressed before your mind notices?

B Natural answer

Before I consciously feel stressed, my body usually gives me a few clear signals. The first one is that my chest feels a little tight, and I start getting shallow breaths when I'm busy or under pressure. I also notice that my neck and shoulders become stiff, so I end up rolling them without thinking. Another sign is that I clench my jaw while concentrating, especially if I'm trying to meet a deadline. Those symptoms show up before I really have words for the feeling, which is why I try to pay attention to them. If I catch them early, I can take a short walk, breathe more slowly, or step away from the screen. When I ignore them, the stress usually builds up and I feel much more drained later in the day.

Key phrases in this answer

• getting shallow breaths — Breathing in short, small breaths instead of deep ones.“When I'm anxious, I start getting shallow breaths.”
• clench my jaw — To tighten your jaw muscles, often because of stress.“I clench my jaw when I'm concentrating too hard.”
• step away from the screen — To take a break from your computer or phone.“I step away from the screen when my eyes and head feel tired.”
• holding my breath — Stopping your breathing for a moment, often without noticing.“When I'm nervous, I start holding my breath.”
• early warning — A first sign that something may be getting worse.“A tight jaw can be an early warning of stress.”
• running too fast — Feeling like your body or mind is moving too quickly.“My head feels like it's running too fast when I'm stressed.”