How stress affects your body
Stress affects people differently, however, stress can greatly affect our bodies, and how they function. Let's look at what stress is, and how it affects your body. Stress can be defined as any type of change that causes physical, emotional or psychological strain. With this in mind, it is important to know that not all types of stress are harmful or even negative. There are a few kinds of stress, some harmful, some beneficial:
The first type of stress eustress. This type of stress is fun and exciting, it is what keeps us going and vital. For example, the stress to meet a deadline, the stress or excitement of doing something out of the ordinary like driving a fast car, or hang gliding.
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The next type of stress is acute Stress. This is a very short-term type of stress that can either be positive (eustress) or more distressing (what we normally think of when we think of `stress'). This is the kind of stress we see in day to day life, such as the stress of dealing with a rude client, or a snappy clerk.
The next type of stress is episodic acute stress. This is where acute stress seems to run rampant and be a way of life, creating a life of relative chaos. This is what you think of when you think of drama queens, or over excitable people. Some people feed off of stressful situations. This is the stress they use.
Lastly, we see chronic stress. This is the type of stress that seems never-ending and inescapable. This might be stress caused by relationships or your employment. This is the kind of stress that tends to be extremely negative for your body and leads to burnout.
So how do our bodies respond to this type of stress?
Stress can trigger the body's response to perceived threat or danger, this is often referred to as the Fight-or-Flight response. This response is known for the release of hormones like adrenalin and cortisol. What this means is that heart rate speeds up, digestion slows down, blood flow to major muscle groups is increased, and other changes occur in the autonomic nervous functions. In other words, the body gets a burst of energy and strength.
The response our body takes to stress is great if we are needing to fight or run, but when we are simply caught in rush hour traffic, or are having a stressful afternoon at the office, such a change in our bodies is not good, and not useful, as neither option is viable.
Once the stress is gone, and we relax the body should return to normal function. Thus, stress in small amounts is not harmful, and is actually helpful for function. However, if you face chronic stress, or get stressed too often, your body does not relax and return to normal function, and this can cause damage to the body.
If you are dealing with chronic stress, you may start to see physical symptoms. These symptoms might start out as chronic headaches or catching colds easily. These are signs of a repressed immune system. If the stress continues the immune system can decrease in function even more, and more serious health problems might develop.
Some stress-influenced conditions include, but are not limited to:
- depression
- diabetes
- hair loss
- heart disease
- hyperthyroidism
- obesity
- obsessive-compulsive or anxiety disorder
- sexual dysfunction
- tooth and gum disease
- ulcers
Implement organization techniques, time management, relationship skills and other healthy lifestyle choices to help prevent unnecessary stress.
If you find that despite your efforts you are still experiencing high levels of stress, seek professional help.
