March 17, 2021 11:59 am Marie Claire is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. 60% of adults in the UK have reported their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. It’s probably no surprise that Google searches for ‘chronic stress symptoms’ are currently up 100%. It’s been a stressful year for everyone, thanks to COVID-19, with many being made redundant, having to last minute homeschool, and, heartbreakingly, losing loved ones in unprecedented circumstances. So, yep, everyone’s pretty stressed. But do you know what chronic stress is, how to identify the symptoms in yourself, and how to act to treat them? Like many mental health conditions, it often presents subtly, making it harder to identify – until you’re at breaking point.