All of us may experience stress at some time in our lives, but how do you identify when it's hit a dangerous level in your life? Feeling a bit worried or stressed, when you're attempting to meet an important deadline at work, or when you need to get up and give a speech to the PTA, is quite understanable. But if you are becoming easily overwhelmed by life's mundane tasks, too much stress may be to blame.

Stress can affect the body physically, emotionally and behaviorally. Some danger signs to watch out for include:

Emotional Distress.

If your emotions seem to be out of control, it might be time to recognise what is causing the stress. Sudden mood changes, finding it difficult to get to sleep or remaining asleep, lack of concentration, and even excess worry and feeling tense all of the time, are sure signs of stress.

Behavioral Signs.

Do you find yourself overreacting at the slightest things? Do you act on impulse or withdraw from mingling with friends, kinsfolk, or even your workmates? Are you using alcohol or drugs more often? it could possibly be that the stresses you have in your life are having a negative effect on the way you handle the pressures around you.

Physical Signs

Stress is known to have a negative effect on a persons overall health and well-being. When stress begins to build up over time, with very little release, anxiety can turn inward, causing both annoying physical complaints such as headaches, tense muscles and tiredness, to more grave problems like diabetes and strokes, among others. Too much stress has also been linked to some strains of cancer.

Once a person begins to exhibit these danger signs, chances are stress has already begun to affect them in an undesirable way. They could be feeling overwhelmed chronically tired, or have a list of more serious health complaints.

Depession has also been linked to severe stress, particularly for those people with the disease in their family. Particular care should be taken when the stressors in life begin to affect you so badly that intense fellings of sadness follow. Depression, like stress, can be treated with drugs and therapy and must never be ignored.

Stress has a place in everyones life. It is a great source of power and can help us in overcoming hurdles and face emergencies with clarity and focus. although, too much may be negative, sap our confidence and overwhelm us so greatly that we can't complete even simple tasks. Stress can make us stronger, or it can make us weaker, leaving us tired out. Learning how to spot when you've got too much stress, and discovering a means of dealing with it are a must if you want a happier and healthier life.