Stress is a completely natural reaction to anything that might place negative pressure on you.
And, in fact, a small, concentrated amount of stress can be a good thing! It improves mental alertness, increases muscle tension to give us extra strength and even reduces pain levels (ever heard of people lifting cars during an adrenaline rush?).
At the same time, too much stress can be really detrimental to our physical and mental wellbeing. Here’s what chronic stress does to your body, how you can identify it and, with help, stop it.
What is chronic stress?
Imagine you’re in an interview for a job you really want – your palms are sweaty, stomach’s in knots, mind racing. Your body’s fight-or-flight response is activated, producing more adrenaline.
Now imagine experiencing this feeling all the time, though perhaps with less intensity. It’s a state many of us are familiar with, and it can push us over the edge.
Scientists reckon we’re just not built to live in a state of constant stress like we so often do today. Our stress response was only meant to switch on when we were running away from, say, a sabre tooth tiger. Not when dealing with constant deadlines.
What does chronic stress do to the body?
Aside from the headaches, irritability and constant butterflies in the tummy?
According to the American Psychological Association: “Untreated chronic stress can result in serious health conditions including insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.” Yikes!
Plus, many studies have shown a link between chronic stress and telomere loss. Telomeres protect our chromosomes and affect how our cells age. So, not something you want to be lacking in!
Stress and the mind.
Science has also linked chronic stress to mental health issues including depression, anxiety, insomnia, social phobia, difficulty concentrating and panic disorders.
There’s also a real risk of burnout – both physically and psychologically.
According to Reach Out: “When you’ve reached the point of burnout, you can really feel like you’ve had the life sucked out of you. Your ability to care, to make an effort and find motivation no longer exists.”
How get a handle on chronic stress.
In today’s society we tend to wear stress as a badge of honour, when, in reality, it’s our body telling us to slow down. Stressed out? Try these tips.
- Mindfulness: Take the time to check in with yourself and identify your reasons for stress. Check out our intro to mindfulness here.
- Exercise: Being active has proven time and time again to improve mental health.
- Sleep: We know it’s easier than said and done, but sleep is probably the single most important thing for your noggin.
- Eat mindfully: You may want to jump headfirst into a vat of ice-cream when stressed, but emotional eating can seriously perpetuate the anxiety cycle.
- Seek help: All this may seem pretty overwhelming. A mental health professional will support and guide you as you address this very important area of your health.
If this has raised any issues for you or someone you know, visit Beyond Blue for information and resources on anxiety.
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