Silent Mind introduces plenty of newcomers to their very first singing bowls. And once they get in the habit of using their singing bowls, the calm and centeredness some experience is almost a shock to the system.

A common refrain: “I had no idea I was that stressed out!”

Is it possible to experience high levels of stress or anxiety and not realize it? Absolutely! Patients see doctors all of the time for physical symptoms, only to receive a diagnosis they didn’t see coming - stress.

If you feel your stress levels are out of control, you should still book an appointment with your doctor. But if you’re on the fence about whether or not your stress is really a problem, watch for these signs:

Aching Neck or Jaw

Is your neck and/or jaw frequently sore or fatigued? This is a common physical side effect of stress. Jaw pain often comes from grinding your teeth, which is a habit many people don’t realize they have. Sometimes this is because they only do it in their sleep.

Neck and shoulder pain are a natural effect of holding tension. If you think your neck pain could be stress-related, watch your posture. It’s common for stressed people to bunch their shoulders up toward their ears.

Sleep Abnormalities

People who sleep too much or too little probably have a good idea that stress is playing a role. However, what most people don’t realize is that your dreams can tell you more about your stress levels as well.

If you’re having the same dream nightly or are dreaming nonstop when you usually don’t, it could be stress. Stress makes the mind very active, and it won’t automatically shut off when drift off to sleep.

Poor Memory or Trouble Focusing

Memory and concentration may suffer with age, but often, it’s really stress. If you’re worried about how forgetful you are, or are frustrated when trying to complete a task, mindfully scan your behavior for other signs of stress.

Weight Gain

Think quarantine is to blame for those extra ten pounds? It depends on where you gained it. Stress hormones, particularly cortisol, are notorious for making us collect weight around the middle. 

In addition to the release of stress hormones, our eating habits suffer when we are under stress. So it may not be that you aren’t “good at” eating healthy; you’re just too stressed to take care of yourself in this area right now.

White Dots or Stripes On Nails 

If you think this is a weird stress symptom, keep in mind that stress does do weird things to the body. In this case, it depletes us of certain minerals. Mineral deficiencies, even if temporary, can show up on our nails as white spots or stripes.

Zinc is usually the culprit here. The possibility of a stress-related mineral deficiency is another good reason to see a doctor. From there, you can support your stress-reduction treatment plan with meditation, singing bowls, and possibly yoga.

What telltale signs of stress have caught you off guard? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to share your favorite ways to reduce stress.