Most of us are constantly surrounded by stressors. Whether it’s traffic, a rude co-worker or an unexpected expense, life’s little surprises can easily put a damper on your day. The way you handle the stressors in your life can completely change your attitude, thoughts and emotions. Ongoing stress in your home life or work life can drastically affect the way you handle your emotions. You might begin to experience mood swings or sudden outbursts, or you may begin to feel depressed. If you’re in emotional distress, it’s important to take a step back and figure out a way to de-stress and take back control.

Here are three tell-tale signs that you are in emotional distress, and what to do to get your life back on track:

1. You Lose All Patience

rude

If you notice yourself being snippy or short with others, stress could be the culprit. Emotional distress causes you to feel like everyone around you is getting on your last nerve. You feel fed up with work, school, family and you just want to be alone. If your patience is wearing thin, it’s time to take a deep breath. Find a quiet spot to sit and think. Make a conscious decision to let go of what’s been bugging you. That doesn’t mean that your stress will disappear immediately, but it’s a start. Finding a way to cope with your stress can help put you back on track. Focus on being patient and moving forward.

2. You Start To Withdraw

lonely

Emotional distress can make you want to escape the real world. You might begin spending more time reading books, playing video games or listening to music. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s important to notice what’s happening. Running from your problems won’t fix them. The reality is, the real world can be stressful. But it’s up to you to decide how to handle your stress. Start by getting to the root of the problem. If your job has you in emotional distress, it’s time to find a new one. If a toxic relationship is the problem, end it. Take back control of your life and your emotions.

3. You Feel Drained

tired

Being under constant stress will eventually affect your well-being. You’ll begin to feel emotionally, mentally and physically drained. You might feel tired all the time, depressed, frazzled or in a fog. The more you focus on your stress and feel sorry for yourself, the deeper it will pull you in. You can give up or you can fight. Take a day or a weekend off and do something to recharge yourself. Take a weekend trip, go for a hike, book a spa day or just spend an evening with people you love. Remind yourself that you are strong, and you can rise above whatever it is that’s trying to bring you down. Make the decision to push through your struggles and come out even stronger.

Sources:
Power of Positivity
WebMD
Daily Burn
WikiHow