Stress is an all too common challenge in modern society. With a pandemic, school, work, family, and other responsibilities, it seems that almost everyone is overwhelmed.
But stress is not something that just feels painful to experience; it also has negative effects on your physical health, mental health, and even your appearance. While some stress is normal and has minor consequences, living with chronic stress can ultimately lead to significantly worse health problems.
If you stress often, then read on to learn about how chronic stress affects all areas of your well-being and gain some tips on how to alleviate it.
How Stress Affects Your Mental Health
Though a little bit of stress is normal and healthy, chronic stress can lead to significant repercussions for your mental health. Chronic stress is often linked to depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, and personality disorders which can all make it much harder to deal with your stressors.
Even if you don’t develop one of these mental health conditions, living with chronic stress can still seriously reduce your happiness and put you in a state of perpetual irritability.
Furthermore, according to Psychology Today, chronic stress kills neurons and affects the processes that contribute to learning and memory. So not only does your mental health tank, but chronic stress also makes it harder to learn or remember anything.
If you’re interested in the link between stress and mental health, head on to BetterHelp for more information.
How Stress Affects Your Physical Health
Anyone who lives with chronic stress knows that it can be a painful experience. But besides the tension and anxiousness that is felt in the moment, chronic stress can do additional significant harm to your physical health.
Those who frequently experience stress often report side effects of headaches, muscle pain or tension, and gastrointestinal problems. However, there are many more serious side effects that come from chronic stress which include:
Increased heart rate
High blood pressure
Fatigue
Chest pain
Insomnia
Loss of sexual desire
Clenched jaw
Grinding teeth
Chronic stress can also contribute to more serious diseases and other health conditions. These include but are not limited to:
Obesity
Eating disorders
Menstrual problems
Cardiovascular disease
Gastrointestinal problems, diseases, and conditions
Sexual dysfunction
How Stress Affects Your Appearance
By now, you should see how important it is to minimize your stress. Allowing chronic stress to take over your life can seriously affect your physical and mental health.
But did you know that stress can also sabotage your beauty regimen and affect your appearance?
Though most people recognize that stress is a common cause of acne, fewer people realize that it can also contribute to psoriasis and eczema. Furthermore, those who stress often develop hair problems which may result in permanent hair loss.
If you wish to lose weight healthily, then stress can sabotage your efforts since chronic stress is linked to obesity. Furthermore, since eating disorders are linked to stress as well, this can have a detrimental effect on your healthy weight management plan.
Tips to Alleviate Stress
With so many repercussions to chronic stress, it’s important to create a healthier lifestyle and schedule that reduces it. Though there may be quite a lot of pressure from society to work overtime and fill your schedule with as many activities as possible, the truth is that this is not good for your health.
However, if adjusting your schedule or responsibilities is not an option right now, there are many other ways that you can reduce your stress. Here are some tips to alleviate stress and create a calmer life and environment:
Cut down on caffeine
Identify and reduce stress triggers
Set realistic goals and expectations
Exercise
Consume a healthy diet
Breathe deeply
Practice meditation
Practice mindfulness
In addition to these changes, you may want to consider talking to a counselor or therapist. Stress is not something we can completely cut out of our lives. A little bit of stress is normal and healthy as it helps us accomplish our tasks and juggle our responsibilities. However, too much can be a hindrance. Discussing your stress with a therapist or medical professional will help you find other strategies and treatment options to stop chronic stress from taking over your life. .
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
