Well,
I must admit that these symptoms:
€¢ Upset stomach
€¢ Diarrhea or constipation
€¢ Lowered immune system
€¢ Disturbed sleeping patterns
are very familiar to me. Always have been. As for when I am stressed how do I know it? Well, I feel like those car alarms that keep beeping for no reasons! Seriously, I feel hypervigilant and jumpy, edgy, muscle tension, mauseous, my digestive track goes out of whack, I have to go to the ladies room non-stop, my pulse is faster...I feel stressed!
As for smoking, I used to smoke. I quit, it will be two years I quit on the first of August 2008, so about a year and a half ago. I feel much better now. I hadn't realized how much the cigarettes did not relax me but had a stimulating effect on me. Also, my lungs weren't as good so I didn'T breathe as well, that didn't help either. It was tough quitting but I am really happy I did it.
-Diva