Q&A: What are the symptoms of chronic stress?

Chronic stress can affect any aspect of the body. Common symptoms include tense muscles, especially at the base of the neck, digestive disturbances, headaches, menstrual irregularity, palpitations, chest pain, irritability, decreased sexual performance, impaired thinking, skin rashes, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. Stress can also make any underlying condition worse, including diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, infections, and many more. Also, people experiencing stress have a tendency to neglect care of themselves, which also intensifies these symptoms.