There are various symptoms of a stressful lifestyle. The trouble with identifying them is that they tend to creep up on you. This is why people seem to be okay and managing their stresses and then proceed to full burnout, seemingly without any middle ground. The key things to look out for are physical. A tightening of the shoulders and the inability to allow them to drop down is a sure sign of stress. Raised hairs on your neck and arms are also associated with stress. You may also suffer from headaches, a loss of sleep or even a tightening of the jaw. All of these things are associated with the fight or flight response many animals have. It is a survival trait. When we expose ourselves to too many stressful situations, this can build up and become chronic stress that is hard to come down from. Some people develop stomach pains, a loss of libido or an erratic heartbeat when stresses are not handled effectively.