While stress is a natural part of life, due to it being the body’s natural response to challenges, it lingering can have profound effects on your health. Chronic stress is different from acute stress, as acute stress is a short-term response to a specific situation or event such as:
- Public speaking
- Getting into an argument
- Experiencing a natural disaster
- Meeting a deadline
Acute stress usually resolves on its own once the stressful event has passed.
However, chronic stress, is a persistent stress that can last for an extended period, often months or even years. It has far-reaching consequences, which can affect nearly every system in the body.
This type of stress can be caused by ongoing situations such as:
- Trauma
- Health issues
- Relationship problems
- Financial difficulties
- Work-related stress
It is imperative that you manage your stress levels so it doesn’t linger, and lead to chronic stress.
Long-term effects of chronic stress
1 . Brain
Chronic stress can lead to cognitive impairment due to cortisol’s impact on the hippocampus, which affects memory, concentration, and decision-making abilities. Additionally, it can contribute to the development of anxiety, depression, and other mental issues. It also causes a shrinkage in prefrontal cortex areas associated with decision- making.
Mood swings, emotional instability and increased irritability is also how stress impacts your body.
2 . Cardiovascular system
Another long-term effects of stress is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.
3 . Digestive systems
Chronic stress can cause stomach problems such as ulcer, acid reflux, nausea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
4 . Immune system
Weakened immune system can also occur due to chronic stress. It suppresses the immune system, which makes you more susceptible to illnesses.
5 . Endocrine system
It can cause hormonal imbalance due to disrupted balance of hormones in the body. Therefore, it leads to problems like thyroid dysfunction, adrenal fatigue, and hormonal imbalances.
6 . Weight gain
Excessive weight gain can occur when you get too stressed, because it can affect your eating habits. How? Because stress can mess with your hunger ho, or eating habits, which can prevent healthy eating. Chronic stress can lead excessive eating, and high-weight gain.
7 . Sleep disruption
Stress can disrupt your sleep pattern, which can lead to insomnia, daytime fatigue, and other sleep-related problems. Sleep deprivation can affect your mood, and brain performance. It can make you cranky, moody, anxious, and restless. Therefore, stress can also affect your mood throughout the day, and your ability to perform tasks.
Other effects of chronic stress
Skin problems: Stress can trigger or exacerbate skin issues like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Additionally, it can affect the appearance or brightness of your skin, which can lead to dull skin.
Hair loss: Chronic stress can contribute to hair loss, particularly telogen effluvium.
Muscle and bone issues: Stress can lead to muscle tension, back pain, and other musculoskeletal problems.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Chronic stress can cause stomach ulcers, acid reflux, and other gastrointestinal problems.
Reproductive issues: Stress can affect fertility, menstrual cycles, and libido. Therefore, when you’re highly stressed, you may not have interest in having sex. Or as a guy, it can be difficult to get hard. Additionally, too much stress can affect pregnancy, and could lead to complications.
How Chronic stress can lead to chronic diseases
One of the main reasons chronic stress is dangerous, is that it can cause severe health problems. If you don’t manage your stress levels properly, you can increase your risk of developing chronic illnesses. Here are the ways stress can lead to serious health conditions:
Heart problems: Chronic stress can increase your blood pressure, which leads to hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
Diabetes: When you’re stressed, your blood sugar levels raises, which can add to the development of type 2 diabetes.
Problems in the heart region: Chronic stress can increase your risk of heart disease, including heart attacks, strokes and arrhythmias.
Excessive weight gain: One of the bad things about stress is how it can make a person eat excessively, especially sugary foods, and gain so much weight. Therefore, their risk of developing high-weight related diseases increases.
Mental health disorders: Talk about depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. These are all the chronic illnesses that can occur when a person is insanely, and constantly stressed out.
Cancer: You could be at risk of developing cancer if you’re not managing your stress levels correctly. Because chronic stress may weaken the immune system, which may increase your risk of getting certain types of cancer. For example, breast, lung and colon cancer, are potential effects of stress.
Brain diseases: Too much stress may contribute to the development of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Long-Term Behavioral Changes of Chronic Stress.
Behavioral symptoms of chronic stress are SO hard to spot. They are also subtle, like chewing on/picking at the skin around your fingers, or they can be more obvious, like going on a shopping spree. Guess what? If you don’t already know, chronic stress always negatively impacts your behavior in some way.
Examples are:
- You start chewing on your fingers or picking at your skin.
- You keep buying stuff you don’t need. Retail therapy, anyone? 👀
- You eat too much or too little.
- You forget to take care of yourself.
- You’re always grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw.
- You pull out your hair.
- You’re constantly pacing around or fidget nonstop.
- Always biting your nails.
- You hide from social events or avoid people.
- Tapping your foot anxiously.
- You’re not sleeping enough or sleep too much.
- You turn to bad habits like smoking, drinking, or substance abuse.
The Science Of Chronic Stress Management.
Mindfulness.
You’ve probably heard of mindfulness, but me to you, it’s going to blow your mind. Why? It’s all about being present and focused. And when you practice mindfulness, you can reduce stress hormones (cortisol), mood swings and boost your cognitive function.
Exercise.
If you ask me, I’d tell you that exercise is like a magic pill but, you know, without the pill part. It releases endorphins (happy hormones) and when you exercise, you can reduce anxiety and depression, get better sleep and boost your self-esteem.
Therapy.
Sometimes, you just need to talk to someone who gets it. When you work with a therapist, you can reduce mood swings and love yourself differently.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).
NLP is like a brain hack that helps you rewire your thoughts and behaviors. It’s based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected, and by changing one, we can change the others. NLP can help you change those negative thoughts, manage stress and anxiety, help you reduce fear and stop some bad habits.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
EMDR is a type of therapy that is based on the idea that our brains process traumatic events differently than regular ones, and that by reprocessing them, we can get better. It’s like a software update for your brain. It can help you overcome PTSD, anxiety, and depression, it can even help you overcome fear and addictions.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Training.
It’s a bit like a meditation, but with a focus on your heart rate and breathing. It can reduce your stress levels, improve your sleep, and your mood.
We believe you will also love these articles:
