Physical Symptoms
· Change in appetite: excessive eating, anorexia, eating excessive amount of unhealthy food
· Frequent headaches
· Clenching/grinding of teeth
· Tension: muscle aches, lower back or neck and shoulder pain
· Indigestion, stomach pain, diarrhea/constipation
· Fatigue
· Disturbed sleep: nightmares/insomnia/frequent waking/early waking/restless sleeping
· Weight change: loss or gain
· Lowered sex drive
· Pounding heart, chest pains or tightness
· Unexplained skin rash
· Restlessness
· Nervous gestures or physical agitation
· Being more accident prone
· Increased drug/alcohol use
Emotional Symptoms
· Increased anxiety
· Increased frustration with others
· Loss of patience
· The “blues”
· Mood swings
· Increased irritability/anger
· Emotional outbursts: crying spells, anger
· Feeling that “no one cares”
· Depression
· Nervous laughter
· Excessive worrying
· Being easily discouraged
· Loss of confidence
· Feeling little joy
· Feeling hopeless
Mental Symptoms
· Poor concentration
· Loss of short term memory, forgetfulness
· Felling like all of your senses have dulled
· Low productivity
· Procrastination
· Negative attitude
· Confusion
· Mental lethargy/loss of interest
· Whirling mind
· Rumination
· Boredom/spacing out
· Negative self-talk
· Thoughts of death, suicide, or escape
Relational Symptoms
· Withdrawl from others/isolation
· Intolerance of others
· Resentment of others
· Loneliness
· Lashing out at others
· No interest in sex
· Distrust of others
· Lack of emotional/physical intimacy
· Loss of interest in relationships with others
Spiritual Symptoms
· Feelings of emptiness
· Loss of meaning
· Feelings of doubt
· Unforgiving of others
· Feeling/acting like a martyr
· Looking for magic solutions
· Loss of direction
· Cynicism/apathy
· Needing to prove yourself
· Anger at God
· Feeling punished for past wrong doings
Shirley Vandersteen, Ph. D., R. Psych.
Consulting Psychologist
