Is Stress Making You Feel Sick?

Woman experiencing a headache from stress
Between disciplining the children, deadlines at work and the ups and downs of everyday life it seems everybody suffers from some degree of stress. While it is true that stress, to an extent, can actually be good for you, continuously dealing with substantial amounts of stress can leave you fatigued, irritable, and just downright sick.

Stress is the chemical reaction that occurs in your body, also known as the "fight or flight" response, when you are faced with a harmful situation. Since each individual person reacts to stress differently, the effects of stress on the mind and body can vary significantly. If you've been suffering from some type of ailment and you just can't seem to put your finger on the cause, stress might be the culprit.

Common Symptoms of Stress
  • Emotional Symptoms: The emotional symptoms of stress can be quite devastating. Common symptoms include frustration and moodiness, depression, feeling overwhelmed, avoiding others and having a difficult time relaxing.
  • Cognitive Symptoms: Cognitive issues that are commonly experienced during high levels of stress include confusion, poor judgment, inability to focus, racing thoughts, forgetfulness and disorganized thoughts.
  • Behavioral Symptoms: Changes in eating patterns, aggressiveness, procrastination, new or increased drug or alcohol usage and the exhibition of nervous behaviors like pacing or nail biting are all behavioral symptoms of stress.
  • Physical Symptoms: Stress affects the body in many ways. Symptoms include recurrent headaches, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, changes in sexual desires or performance, rapid heartbeat or chest pain and even allergies, frequent colds or infections.

Effects of Chronic Stress on the Body

Although stress here and there, and to some degree is nothing to be immediately concerned with, suffering from chronic stress or extensive amounts of stress can be detrimental to your health. Serious health problems that are commonly caused by chronic or extensive amounts of stress include:
  • Mental health issues, including the development of personality disorders, anxiety and depression
  • Eating disorders, including anorexia or obesity
  • Cardiovascular disorders such as high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke
  • Sexual dysfunction or loss of sexual desire
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Permanent hair loss
  • A variety of skin disorders, including psoriasis, severe acne or eczema

Great Ways to Relieve Stress

If you believe that you are suffering from harmful stress levels, there are a number of things you can do to prevent stress overload and significantly reduce your symptoms.
  • Develop a support network: Whether you prefer joining a support group or simply talking with a friend, having a strong support network cannot only reduce the symptoms of stress, but it can reduce your vulnerability to stress as well.
  • Reevaluate your outlook: Having a positive outlook can significantly change your reaction to stressful situations. You don't need to view the glass half full, per say, but at least tell yourself that you have something left to drink.
  • Listen to music: Listening to relaxing music not only has a positive effect on the mind, but it can actually lower certain hormones that are related to stress.
  • Eat right: Foods with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress significantly. Additionally, a well-nourished body is better prepared to cope with stress.
  • Exercise regularly: Physical activity, even in small amounts, can actually release endorphins in the brain that can improve your mood and relieve the symptoms of stress almost immediately.
  • Try mindfulness: Experiment with activities like yoga, tai chi or even simple meditation to reduce the symptoms of stress.
  • Get plenty of sleep: Restful sleep can play a key role in how well you deal with stress. The lack of sleep can leave you irritable, thinking irrationally and emotionally drained.
Therapeutic massage has a long and proven history of helping people overcome stress and improve their overall health and well-being.

Yours in Good Health,
Eugene Wood
Licensed NYC Massage Therapist
http://www.eugenewoodmassage.com

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