8 Hidden Signs You Are Stressed and Don’t Know It

8 Hidden Signs You Are Stressed and Don’t Know It

If I asked you, “Are you stressed?”, many of you might say, “Not really.” But what if I told you that most people are stressed and don’t even know it?

Back when I was a lawyer, I didn’t think I was stressed. Sure, I had tight deadlines, demanding clients, micromanaging bosses, and had to juggle areas of law that weren’t my specialty—but I thought it was just normal. It was the life I knew, and I had no idea that I was in a constant state of stress.

But everything changed after I left corporate life.

Just last month, I had an intense emotional reaction to a nasty email from someone on my strata committee. My heart was racing, my face was flushed, and I felt defensive and angry. These were things I used to deal with easily—but now, being away from that constant pressure, I realised:

this reaction was stress. Real, physical, emotional stress.

And it got me thinking… how many of us are stressed and don’t know it?

What Is Stress Really?

One definition of stress is:

“A specific response by the body to a stimulus… that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism.”

In everyday terms, this means when your body or mind is out of balance—when you’re not calm, not at peace, and not functioning the way you’re meant to.

Not all stress is bad—exercise, for example, is a form of healthy stress. But constant, unacknowledged stress builds up over time and can lead to exhaustion, illness, burnout, or even disease.

Signs You Are Stressed and Don’t Know It

Let’s look at some subtle but powerful signs you might be stressed—even if you think you’re fine:

1. You’re single and feeling like you’ll never meet the right person, no matter what you try.

2. You’re getting headaches, migraines, or chronic pain (neck, shoulder, back) without a clear cause.

3. You constantly worry about money or fear not making ends meet.

4. Your boss micromanages you, leaving you feeling undervalued and mistrusted.

5. You’re a parent feeling unsupported or unable to meet your child’s needs.

6. You work long days without time to recharge or rest.

7. You can’t get good-quality sleep, or you wake up already feeling tired.

8. You feel overwhelmed with mental clutter and decision fatigue.

These are all signs that your nervous system is under pressure—even if you’re functioning “fine” on the outside.

Why Awareness Matters

The truth is, many of us are conditioned to ignore stress. We believe that being “strong” means powering through it. But ignoring stress doesn’t make it go away—it just forces it to show up in other ways: emotionally, physically, spiritually.

My recent experience reminded me that the decision to leave corporate life was the best one I’ve ever made. I now know what peace feels like. I now notice stress when it creeps in. And I now choose to listen to my body before it screams at me.

Final Thoughts

Everyone deserves to live a life that isn’t ruled by stress.If any of the signs above sound familiar, I encourage you to reflect on what’s causing that imbalance—and consider what changes might bring more peace into your life.

Because the more you know what stress looks like for you, the more empowered you are to transform it. And you absolutely deserve that.

Feel free to contact me if you wanted to know more or book in a session to address your stress.