Unexpected Physical Symptoms Caused by Chronic Stress

21. Noticeable Changes in Body Odor

This might be one of the more surprising and "beyond the obvious" symptoms: chronic stress can actually change your body odor. Stress activates apocrine glands (found mainly in armpits and anogenital areas), which produce a type of sweat rich in proteins and lipids. When this sweat is broken down by skin bacteria, it can result in a more pungent odor than sweat produced by eccrine glands (which are activated by heat). Heightened cortisol levels associated with chronic stress can contribute to this, subtly signaling your body's internal state to the outside world.

22. Phantom Vibrations or "Ringing Phone Syndrome"

Ever sworn you felt your phone vibrate in your pocket or heard it ring, only to find no notification? While not exclusively caused by stress, this phenomenon, sometimes called "phantom vibration syndrome" or "ringxiety," can be heightened or triggered by a hyper-alert nervous system. When you're chronically stressed, your brain is often on high alert for any potential demand or stimulus. This can lead to misinterpreting subtle sensory inputs as important alerts, a fascinating and very modern physical manifestation of an overactive stress response.