Did you have a hard day at work? Are your kids making it difficult for you to keep your sanity? Is it becoming difficult to juggle your marriage and your friends? If so, you’re not alone.  Millions of North Americans find themselves stressing out about different aspects of their lives, yet most of them don’t know how to cope with it in an effective manner.

Everyone has something they could be stressed out about; just some people decide to focus on it more than others. Keeping a positive frame of mind will work wonders on your health – and may end up solving a couple of the problems we listed above in the meantime.

Worrying and stressing about the little things (or even the big things) can have negative impacts on your life.

Here are the top 5 negative effects of stress:

1. Weight Gain. It’s ironic that that both men and women stress out about their weight. It’s even more ironic considering the fact that being stressed out about those few extra pounds will likely lead to packing on a few more. It’s a known fact that the majority of individuals deal with stress by eating. So put down that pop tart and pick up a book. It will help relieve the stress and keep your figure fabulous.

2. Headaches/Migraines. If you’ve ever suffered from a migraine, you know it’s not a pleasant experience. What if we told you those circumstances could be avoided if you took time to de-stress. If you feel as though you’re worrying too much about certain things in your life, go for a run or hit the gym. It’s a heck of a lot better than spending the next 3 days in your bed with the curtains closed and the lights off, don’t you think?

3. Mood Swings/ Irritability. Individuals coping with stress can become very temperamental and often suffer from mood swings. If you know someone who has been stressed out recently, chances are they have also been high strung and difficult to be around. If you don’t like dealing with those types of people, make sure you’re not one of them yourself.

4. Bad Skin. Stress and worrying can not only have a negative impact on your health, but can also have detrimental effects on your appearance (besides weight gain). Stressing out (especially in teenagers) can lead to breakouts, skin inflammation and even cold sores. If feeling good isn’t reason enough to stop stressing, maybe looking good is.

5.  Sleep Problems. Stress is the leading cause of sleep deprivation in average Americans. It’s easy to lose several hours of valuable sleep time, worrying about and analyzing all the problems you’re dealing with. The sad truth is they’re still going to be there in the morning, so you might as well get some rest in the meantime.

Remember, everything will work out in the end. It always does.