Are You Overlooking Them? 6 Signs of "Silent Stress": The True Causes of Bloating, Back Pain, and Brain Fog

In an article for the Australian newspaper The Age (also featured on the same network's SMH/Brisbane Times), health writer Paula Goodyer introduces "six hidden signs of excessive stress." Beyond typical symptoms like racing thoughts and irritability, she emphasizes that physical issues such as ① bloating, ② backache, and ③ heartburn can also be triggered by stress (as the sympathetic nervous system and hormones affect multiple systems). Building on this article, clinical and specialized sites highlight ④ jaw clenching/teeth grinding, ⑤ skin issues and worsening breakouts, and ⑥ **difficulty making decisions (decision fatigue/brain fog)** as "less visible signs." They offer self-checks and coping strategies. On social media, multiple threads on Reddit observe a surge of empathetic posts about "forgetfulness," "inability to decide," "gastrointestinal troubles," and "frequent physical symptoms." If left unaddressed, these issues can become chronic and lower quality of life, so a strategy of gradually and simultaneously improving sleep, exercise, diet (gut health), social connections, and consulting healthcare professionals is effective.