As individuals we are unique from the perspective of our experiences, yet in being human everyone is the same. We all respond to lossing something we have or want, creating conflict and triggering distress.

Distress activates the stress response state. This stimulates innate cellular activity, affecting the function and structure of the body’s organs. The most noticeable signs of stress are listed below.

Initial effects:

• Anxiousness
• Muscle tension and pressure
• Increasing breathing rate
• Palpitation and shaking
• Nervousness and cold perspiration
• Stomach churning and nausea
• Compulsive irrational thoughts
• Irregular behaviour
  
• Reduced capacity to think
• Reduced confidence

Subsequent effects:

• Cold body & extremities
• Gastro intestinal disturbance/pain
• Loss of sensation in fingers, hands, arms, legs & feet
• Pale dry itchy skin
• Musculoskeletal pain in neck, back, hands, feet, joints etc.
• Fluid retention
  
• Changes in appetite
• Restlessness
  

Latter effects:

• Fatigue and tiredness
• Exhaustion/Low energy
  
• Ache and inflammation
• Warm body with hot skin
  
• Fever/Discharge
• Dizzy/Faint
• Headache/Double vision
• Absent minded
• Pins and needles
• Sensitivity to light