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Expert reveals 7 signs you're more stressed than you realise

Expert reveals 7 signs you're more stressed than you realise

Cognitive behavioural coach Elizabeth Walker shares 7 everyday habits that could be hidden stress responses, and what to do about them.

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Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: September 26, 2026 at 10:35 PM

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Between juggling work, family life and a never-ending mental to-do list, it's easy to accept feeling stressed as just another part of everyday life. But what if some of your most familiar habits are actually signs that you're more stressed than you realise?

From adding things to your online shopping basket after a particularly exhausting day to scrolling through Instagram long after you should be asleep, stress doesn't always show up in the ways we'd expect. And sometimes, the things we do to make ourselves feel better could be keeping us stuck in the same cycle.

Elizabeth Walker, cognitive behavioural coach and founder of The Empowerment Warrior, shares 7 everyday behaviours that could be hidden stress responses. Here, she explains what might be behind them and shares practical ways to recognise and manage them.

Cognitive behavioural coach and founder of The Empowerment Warrior, Elizabeth Walker

7 everyday habits that could actually be signs of stress

1. You're constantly pushing your feelings aside

Ever found yourself saying "I'm fine" when you're anything but? Whether you're trying to get through the school run or simply don't have the energy to explain how you're feeling, bottling things up can become second nature.

Elizabeth explains that suppressing difficult emotions, known as expressive suppression, doesn't necessarily stop your body from experiencing stress. In fact, holding everything in may keep your stress response active, potentially affecting your heart rate and blood pressure.

She recommends acknowledging your emotions rather than immediately trying to change them.

"A useful first step is simply to name the emotion without feeling pressure to change it or immediately understand where it has come from."

What to try: Spend a few minutes each day checking in with yourself. Writing down your feelings in a journal may help you identify recurring emotional patterns.

2. You're regularly treating yourself to impulse purchases

There's nothing wrong with a little retail therapy. But if you're constantly adding things to your basket after a difficult day, it might be worth considering what's driving those purchases.

According to Elizabeth, shopping can offer a temporary distraction and restore a sense of control when life feels overwhelming. However, that emotional boost is often short-lived, and repeated spending can create additional financial pressure.

"The next time you feel tempted to buy something non-essential, take a photo of it or write it down instead."

What to try: Introduce a 48-hour rule for non-essential purchases. Save the item to a wishlist and revisit it two days later to decide whether you genuinely want it.

3. You're avoiding friends and family

When you're exhausted, even replying to a WhatsApp message can feel like another task on your never-ending to-do list.

But regularly withdrawing from friends and family could be a sign that you're feeling overwhelmed.

Elizabeth highlights the importance of social connection, explaining that feeling safe and supported by another person can help calm the nervous system through a process known as co-regulation.

When speaking to people close to you feels difficult, joining a supportive online community can offer a gentler way to reconnect.

Elizabeth Walker, cognitive behavioural coach

What to try: Start small. Send a message to a friend, arrange a quick coffee or consider joining a supportive online group. Reconnecting doesn't have to mean committing to an entire afternoon of socialising.

4. You're constantly reaching for comfort food

If your first instinct after a stressful bedtime routine is to reach for the chocolate cupboard, you're certainly not alone.

Elizabeth explains that when eating repeatedly follows stressful experiences, your brain can begin associating certain foods with emotional relief.

Stress can also affect appetite, making foods high in sugar or fat feel particularly rewarding.

"When a craving appears during a stressful moment, set a ten-minute timer before getting a snack and use that time to practice meditative breathwork or taking a short walk."

What to try: Take a ten-minute pause to check in with how you're feeling. If you still fancy that chocolate afterwards, enjoy it without guilt.

5. You feel guilty whenever you're not being productive

Does sitting down for five minutes immediately remind you of everything you haven't done?

Constant busyness can sometimes become a way of avoiding uncomfortable thoughts or worries, according to Elizabeth. Unfortunately, this can make switching off increasingly difficult.

Keeping busy may feel productive, but it can also become a way of avoiding a difficult conversation or worry.

Elizabeth Walker, cognitive behavioural coach

What to try: At the end of your working day, write down unfinished tasks and decide when you'll return to them. Creating a clear stopping point may make it easier to switch off.

6. You can't stop scrolling on your phone

You pick up your phone for a quick look at Instagram and suddenly half an hour has disappeared. Sound familiar?

Elizabeth identifies doomscrolling as another potential stress response. Although scrolling might provide a temporary distraction, it can also expose you to further stress and encourage you to avoid whatever is bothering you.

"Setting app limits can introduce a clear stopping point, while charging your phone in another room reduces the likelihood of scrolling late into the evening."

What to try: Set daily app limits and consider charging your phone outside your bedroom, particularly if late-night scrolling is eating into your sleep.

7. You're ignoring how exhausted you really are

For many parents, surviving on caffeine and pushing through tiredness can feel like an unavoidable part of everyday life.

However, Elizabeth warns that repeatedly ignoring exhaustion can create a difficult cycle. Without adequate recovery, everyday tasks may become more demanding, leaving even less time for rest.

Exhaustion may then be treated as an unavoidable part of daily life rather than a sign that the body needs recovery.

Elizabeth Walker, cognitive behavioural coach

What to try: Pay attention to the beliefs that make you feel you should always be doing something. Elizabeth suggests that one-to-one coaching may help you identify these patterns and develop a healthier approach to rest.

What to do if you recognise these signs of stress

Occasionally treating yourself, enjoying comfort food or spending an evening scrolling doesn't automatically mean you're experiencing unhealthy levels of stress.

What's worth noticing is whether these behaviours have become automatic, are difficult to control or are leaving you feeling worse afterwards.

If stress is regularly affecting your sleep, relationships or everyday life, consider speaking to your GP or a qualified mental health professional.

About our expert

Elizabeth Walker is a cognitive behavioural coach and founder of The Empowerment Warrior. According to her professional biography, she has more than 20 years of experience spanning personal training, nutrition and coaching, and is ICF-certified. Beginning her career in physical health and sports therapy, Elizabeth developed an interest in how emotional patterns can affect overall wellbeing. Her work now focuses on the relationship between the mind, body and behaviour, supporting clients in developing healthier habits and approaches to personal development.

Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.