From Mind to Body: Understanding How Stress Impacts Your Physical Well-being
By Melody Wright, LMFT
“I’m feeling really stressed right now, but I can handle it for a while longer, right?” Well, maybe, but we’re not sure that is a great idea. While we all experience different levels of stress throughout our lifespan, constant exposure to stress can have long-term effects on our bodies. Some individuals may be able to tolerate high stress levels for extended periods of time, but ultimately these levels of stress will begin to take their toll. While we understand that reducing stress or getting rid of certain stressors may be easier said than done, you may want to consider reevaluating your current stress levels after learning more about the long-term impact.
The long-term effects of stress can affect different areas of our body, including our mind and emotions. Below are some of the signs and symptoms of high stress levels broken down by the areas of the body they usually affect:
Cognitive (Mind):
Racing mind/thoughts
Difficulty being still
Unable to focus
Avoiding responsibilities or procrastinating
Emotional:
Being/feeling irrational
Lashing out at friends and loved ones
Feeling lonely or worthless
Physical:
Changes in appetite or eating habits
Compromised immune system that leads to getting ill more often
Constantly feeling tense (ie. muscle tension or clenched jaw)
Gastrointestinal issues (ie. irregular bowel movements or stomach pain)
Headaches or migraines
Lack of sleep
Developing chronic conditions such as heart disease or high blood pressure
If you find yourself currently experiencing some of the symptoms above, it’s not too late to address your stress levels and their subsequent effects. While not all effects are reversible, such as developing high blood pressure, addressing your stress at any age can improve your health and overall quality of life. You can start off small by adding some stress-relieving activities into your day, such as taking a 15 minute walk every evening before settling into your bedtime routine. If you’ve noticed yourself feeling drained after seeing certain friends or family, you may want to consider seeing them less often or setting up boundaries around how often you interact with them.
As mentioned before, we acknowledge that it may not be easy to completely get rid of some stressors, but you can help mitigate their effects. If your job is a constant source of stress, but you are the sole-breadwinner within your household, it can feel like you have no other option but to continue with your current routine. If you find it difficult to think of ways to help address your stress, we encourage you to consider talking to a therapist that will help you look at different options to incorporate some stress-relieving activities into your routine. For more information, click here to help schedule a consultation.
