Check Out These Surprising Signs that Indicate You're Stressed

The editors at Fitness reveal what hellish periods and crazy dreams may be telling you — and how to make them stop.

Sore, bleeding gums

Tension weakens your immune system, which can allow bacteria in the mouth to gain more of a foothold and eventually cause gum irritation and inflammation.



Nix it: Now is not the time to slack off on the brushing twice a day and flossing once — so be sure you do both. For extra protection, use a bacteria-killing mouth rinse to reduce bacteria levels in your mouth.



To boost immune function, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, eat a balanced, healthy diet and take a multivitamin. If you're under prolonged stress and your gums are bleeding often, consider seeing your dentist three or four times yearly for a cleaning and checkup instead of just biannually.

Crazy, surreal dreams

When your mind gets overloaded with anxiety and doesn't know how to process it, a bad dream can be its way to work through the stressful experience so it becomes less threatening.



Nix it: Think of the dreams as free psychotherapy, a possible clue to what's making you tense and a suggestion on how to deal with it. Focus on how you felt in the dream. If you were afraid or embarrassed, consider why. Then ask yourself what makes you feel the same way in real life. For example, you might realize you've said or done something embarrassing at work and need to apologize to someone or be more careful.



If bad dreams are starting to interfere with your sleep, occur nightly or are truly disturbing, you may need professional help to sort things out.

Horrible periods

Women under high stress are more than twice as likely to experience severe menstrual pain during their period as those with generally low stress, according to a study at the Harvard School of Public Health. Stress intensifies the discomfort that already exists. Chemicals called prostaglandins cause uterine contractions and cramps; when you're anxious, these "normal" cramps will feel much worse.



Nix it: To block the production of prostaglandins, take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen or naproxen at the first twinge of pain or one or two days before you get your periods. If this doesn't help, talk to your doctor about taking a prescription muscle relaxant. Research suggests that monthly acupuncture and acupressure may alleviate intense menstrual pain. Applying a heating pad to your lower abdomen can also ease discomfort.