How Chronic Stress Effects Your Mind and Body

Emotional stress has more than likely directly effected every person, from teen to adult, if not once, at least a dozen times in our lives. At some point, each of us have or will experience acute stress, and acute stress is actually healthy for us. But, when an individual experiences chronic stress, the effects on the body and mind can wreak havoc; especially when untreated. Treatment for chronic stress does not always have to involve medical treatment or treatment from a specialist. But, more often than not, by time the chronically stressed person researches the effects of stress on the body or reaches out for help from a medical specialist, it is too late and certain medical and psychiatric measures will need to be taken to reverse or help reduce or stop the repercussions of stress on the body.

Some stress caused symptoms and illnesses are listed below. This is not an all inclusive list of effects on the body and mind by stress, but below are some of the most common.

Depression Caused by Stress
It is not uncommon to even assume that depression can be caused by stress. In fact, your stress may even be a SYMPTOM of your depression. Stress and depression often go hand in hand. If your current antidepressant medications or treatments are not working properly and are causing stress, speak to your health care professional he or she may be able to adjust your antidepressant medication and help alleviate some of the stress caused by depression.

Diabetes Caused by Stress Stress is not the initial cause of diabetes, but uncontrolled severe stress can negatively affect the pancreas, initiating a trigger response that can lead to diabetes. If you already have diabetes, chronic uncontrolled stress can make diabetes to become worse. Continue to monitor your blood sugar levels as directed by your doctor, if you notice changes in your readings, notify your physician. Heart

Disease Caused by Stress Stress that causes heart disease would have to be a very severe amount of stress. Now, does that mean that stress doesn't cause heart disease? No, stress, your stress, can and often will cause heart disease by the way some of you handle stress. Some people lead an unhealthy lifestyle while suffering from stress. The unhealthy lifestyle, which could include overeating, under-eating, sleeplessness, too much sleep, handling stress with the use of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs can all contribute to heart disease.

Too Much Adrenaline Produced by Fight or Flight ResponseOur instincts tell us that during a stressful occasion our brains should trigger the "fight or flight" response. We have evolved to not 'always' need to have the adrenaline to fight or flight, but our bodies are still programmed to pump the adrenaline to do so. But, because most stress we suffer from can not be physically fought or ran from, the adrenaline is pumped and no reaction is made by our bodies. This up and down, back and forth of the brain sending signals to fight or flight does have a negative impact on the body and heart. Those who are chronically stressed and have had several emotional stressful occurrences are more likely to face this unwarranted adrenal rush from the fight or flight response. The surges of adrenaline can lead to more readily clotting of the blood which can increase the risk of heart attack.

Stress and Coronary Artery Disease
Studies have also been done that support the theory that stress can lead to Coronary Artery Disease because of evidence pointing to the fact that stress reduces the amount of blood to the heart. Mix the effects stress can have on your body on its own, coupled with an unhealthy lifestyle caused by stress. And yes, you can probably theorize that stress can cause heart disease, just not generally all on its own. Stress can effect each of us in different ways. Some people are able to handle stress very easily, while others have difficulty handling stress and therefore the stress leads to major effects on our emotional, mental and physical health. Mental or physical stresses can cause various physical, mental, and emotional problems for the sufferers.

Some Common Issues Related to Chronic Stress Can Include:

Stress that effects our hair-increased levels of stress can cause loss of hair and even baldness

Stress that effects our Muscles-with high levels of stress you may experience spasmodic pains located in the neck and shoulders as well as musculoskeletal aches, pain in the lower back, and other minor muscular twitches and nervous tics that are evident during times of high stress.

Stress that effects the digestive tract- some people under alot tress may experience changes to their digestive tract, these symptoms may include gastritis, duodenal and stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, irritable colon, constipation and diarrhea.

Stress that effects the skin-The skin may also be effected if you are suffering from stress. Common skin issues related to above normal stress levels may include rash, itching, eczema, psoriasis, and even hives.

Stress that effects the reproductive organs-for women, when you experience high levels of stress, it is not uncommon to miss a menstrual cycle or to have a heavier than normal menses. Vaginal infections have also been reported by those experiencing high levels of stress in their life. Sexual dysfunction for both male and female stress sufferers have also been reported.

Stress that effects the lungs-the lungs can also be targeted by stress especially those with diagnosis asthma or other breathing difficulties. High levels of stress may exacerbate an already unhealthy lung patient.

Stress that effects the heart-as mentioned earlier the heart can and often does suffer from high levels of stress in a person. Cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, palpitations, racing heart, etc can be caused by accumulated stress.

Stress that effects the mouth-to prove any further how the amount of stress can effect your body, think of the mouth. The mouth can obtain mouth ulcers and dry mouth due to stress.

Stress that effects us mentally-We understand that our mentality is effected by high levels of stress, depression and high levels of stress often go hand in hand, those with high levels of stress may find they sleep more often or do not sleep at all. Insomnia is a popular side effect of too much stress. Stress can increase anxiety as well as paranoia. Memory troubles may be present during high levels of stress as well.

It is very important that you speak with your doctor when you begin to experience high levels of stress, tell your doctor what you believe the cause of the stress is and list all the symptoms you are experiencing associated with the stress. You may require medications to help combat the stress and the symptoms associated and you may also need to speak with a therapist to help you cope with the changes in your life and your body as you go through this period in your life.

Just because one person may be able to handle the same amount of stress as you as if it were a walk in the park, more people than not are not able to handle stresses with such ease. There is no shame in getting help, it is the healthy thing to do. Sources:

www.abcnews.go.com
www.medicinenet.com
www.stress.org
www.stress-anxiety-depression.org/
www.stressandheartdisease.org
http://www.healthy-skincare.com/stress-rash.html