Exploring how stress manifests itself in your body,
Our bodies are equipped to handle stress in small, temporary doses, but when that stress becomes frequent or hangs along for too long, it can have serious effects on your body.
Here are some ways that stress can present itself:
Sore Muscles - When the body senses danger, it gets tense and muscles brace for impact. When the body experiences frequent or chronic stress, muscles are constantly on guard, staying tense and taut for long periods of time. This can trigger many reactions in the body, including chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders. If you’re feeling tense and sore more often than not, take steps to reduce tension. If massages are available to you, get them frequently. Otherwise, spend time stretching, using a foam roller, or just staying active in a way that can help melt some of that pent-up tension away. Another note: if you feel like you’re jumping at every sudden sound or movement, that’s a good sign that you’re dealing with too much stress.
Skin Conditions - The cortisol released by the stress response can prompt an immune response that leads to skin sensitivity. This can cause a flare-up in many inflammatory skin conditions including acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, and hives.
Digestive Issues - Stress hormones can affect how quickly the food moves through the body and what nutrients the intestines absorb. This means that issues like stomach pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea can often be a side effect of excessive stress.
Weight Gain - Did you know that eating foods that are high in sugar and carbohydrates can actually temporarily create feel-good hormones in the body? When we’re stressed, our bodies crave foods that can give us quick and easy energy, like a candy bar or a bagel. Unfortunately, these foods are only a “quick fix” and don’t fill us up, so we can eat more and more without feeling truly full. Oh, and did I mention that cortisol (the hormone that’s released when you’re stressed) also slows your metabolism? So even if you’re actively working to lose weight, stress can interfere with weight management.
Heart Disease - The heart and blood vessels work together to provide nourishment and oxygen to the organs in your body. When the body experiences stress, the heart rate increases, the heart contracts more rapidly, and blood vessels dilate, elevating blood pressure and triggering the “fight or flight” response. If the body is frequently experiencing a state of fight or flight, aka chronic stress, it takes a toll on the body and can increase the risk for hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.
Are any of these symptoms present in your life? If so, which ones are most prevalent?