Stress is a natural part of everyday life. We’ve all experienced sweaty palms, a racing heartbeat, and a boost of adrenaline in a stressful situation. This primal instinct to protect ourselves from threats or danger originated long ago with our ancestors, and it continues today.

Obvious stressors present themselves at key turning points in life — a death in the family, or a significant life change like a move or new baby. But there are also stressors that can live under the radar, undetectable by our conscious mind. Having gone unnoticed, these stressors can initiate an extended “fight or flight” response that can have serious consequences for your health.

According to the American Psychological Association, the longer stress lasts, the worse it is for both your mind and body. Chronic stress can impact your physical and psychological well-being by causing anxiety, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and other detrimental symptoms. Over time, these symptoms can lead to heart disease, depression, and obesity.

Here are five examples of secret stressors that could be wreaking havoc on your physical, mental, and emotional health while you’re unaware:

Lack of Work-life Balance

Many professionals spend more time at the office than they do at home, making it easy to tilt the tenuous work-life balance in favor of work. As employees move up the corporate ladder and take on more responsibilities, the stress from increased expectations grows in terms of time commitment both in and out of regular business hours. Plus, if your home life includes a partner and children or multiple volunteer commitments and hobbies, stress levels can gradually increase simply because you have so little time in the day to accomplish your to-do’s.

The Mayo Clinic warns of the implications of a poor work-life balance: fatigue, burnout, poor physical health, an increased risk of substance abuse, and lost time with friends and loved ones. Not sure if you’ve put too much stock in work? Check out these three questions to help gauge if your priorities need to be realigned to reduce underlying stress levels.

Obsession with Smart Devices

Our connected world comes with an endless barrage of notifications, emails, and texts that can lead to a state of ongoing stress. Many of us have accepted this as the new norm. Research shows that our phones become like our childhood teddy bears, carrying significant emotional attachment.

Dr. Nancy Cheever, who studied the relationship between cellphone use and anxiety, said that the more people use their phone, “the more anxious they are about using their phone.” The phones keep us in an endless state of anxiety where the only relief is to look at our phones more.

It’s an ongoing stress-inducing cycle, considering that on average, Americans check their phones 80 times per day. To fight back against this innate urge, set aside specific time intervals to respond to messages or scan your Facebook newsfeed. If needed, set a timer to avoid an unnecessary Pinterest or Instagram binge that keeps you scrolling for hours.

Stressful Home Environment

A basic question at any routine doctor appointment is: Do you feel safe at home? While this inquiry aims to uncover abuse or other serious issues, it points to a larger notion that how we feel and act in our home environments matter. With the increase in dual income households, stress for both parents and children represents a real concern, as everyone juggles a jam-packed schedule and a finite amount of time to spend together. An increase in households split by divorce and blended families reveals another layer of stress that can alter a peaceful home life, as everyone navigates newly complex familial relationships.

With anxiety disorders representing the most common mental illness in the U.S., there’s a high probability that one or more family members struggle with some level of anxiety. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America also reports that 40 million adults in the U.S. are affected, yet only about 37% receive treatment. Additionally, Major Depressive Disorder affects more than 16.1 million American adults, which can lead to ongoing stress among family members, especially if left untreated.

Few Quality Relationships

Strong personal relationships can lift our spirits, offer support during difficult seasons, and help mitigate stress that arises in everyday life. Dr. Robert Waldinger, a clinical professor of psychiatry for Harvard Medical School, discovered in his 75-year study that relationships are a powerful influencer on life satisfaction. His research shows that quality of life, health and happiness are directly linked to strong relationships.

With screen time dominating human interactions and our increasingly crowded calendars, relationships can take a back-seat. By not prioritizing interpersonal relationships, we can feel alone and unsupported —- the recipe for an unfulfilling and stressful life.

Combat this underlying stress by investing in quality time with your partner, family, friends, and with yourself. Commit to stowing away smart devices and asking higher level questions to support greater intimacy.

Here’s a list of fun questions to weave in.

1.      Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

2.      Would you like to be famous? In what way?

3.      Before making a phone call, do you ever rehearse what you're going to say? Why?

4.      What would constitute a perfect day for you?

5.      When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

6.      If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you choose?

7.      Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

8.      Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

9.      For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

10.  If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

11.  Take four minutes and tell you partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

12.  If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one quality or ability, what would it be?

13.  If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

14.  Is there something that you've dreamt of doing for a long time? Why haven't you done it?

15.  What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

16.  What do you value most in a friendship?

17.  What is your most treasured memory?

18.  What is your most terrible memory?

19.  If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

20.  What does friendship mean to you?

21.  What roles do love, and affection play in your life?

22.  Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.

23.  How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people's?

24.  How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

25.  Make three true "we" statements each. For instance, "we are both in this room feeling..."

26.  Complete this sentence "I wish I had someone with whom I could share..."

27.  If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

28.  Tell your partner what you like about them: be honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you've just met.

29.  Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

30.  When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

31.  Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

32.  What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

33.  If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?

34.  Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

35.  Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?

36.  Share a personal problem and ask your partner's advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen. ... and a few variations:

•If you could choose the sex and physical appearance of your soon-to-be-born child, would you do it?

•Would you be willing to have horrible nightmares for a year if you would be rewarded with extraordinary wealth?

•While on a trip to another city, your spouse/lover meets and spends a night with an exciting stranger. Given that they will never meet again, and could never otherwise learn of the incident, would you want your partner to tell you about it?

Personal insecurities

Confidence is essential for facing daily trials, helping to ward off negative vibes while feeling at peace with yourself and others. When we don’t feel confident about ourselves or our abilities, self-esteem suffers greatly. Research suggests that people with low self-esteem may lack the right coping skills to address day-to-day stressors, and in the case of individuals suffering from chronic disease, self-esteem is directly correlated to stress levels.

The connection between personal insecurities and stress plays out in the world of social media. As social media users compare their looks and experiences to algorithmically curated images on Facebook and Instagram, this social comparison and self-objectification can lead to poorer mental health, lower self-esteem, and greater body shame, according to several studies. Instead of becoming absorbed in virtual worlds where we only show our best selves, look for real-life experiences that boost your confidence and improve your view of the world. Take a class, volunteer, or set aside time for self-care. Your stress levels — and self-worth — will benefit.

Bringing these secret stressors out of the shadows is the first step to facing them head-on, supporting a happier, healthier you.