Although a bit of stress can help you stay inspired but stress can be detrimental to your body in a variety of ways.

How Stress Levels Are Measured

When you’re faced with an imminent threat the brain responds through activation of the “fight, flight, or freeze” system to protect you. In essence, it will prepare you to take the actions essential to ensure your survival. A useful tool, however, when used excessively, can be detrimental to the physique (and also to the brain).

The most interesting part is that individuals can be completely different in their appearance. How the stressors impact one person’s life may not be identical to other people. One example is that a sufferer may be struggling to sleep and suffer from migraines, and then find themselves frequently forgetting their keys and their partner is sleeping well however, they notice a change of IBS symptoms and is then extremely angry.

To understand this wide array of experiences psychologists examine various areas like health, energy, behavioral changes, and moods to assess the effects of stress-related events. We rely on our clients’ descriptions of their experiences and often shine the light on signs that most people don’t realize are caused by stress.

The time of the symptoms can help determine if they’re caused by an event or an indication of a chronic condition. For instance, If blood pressure rises to the top after a heated conversation with their boss, yet they are able to return to a normal level It’s likely to be an indication that the stress response is in good health and working exactly as it is supposed to. However it is a sign of events that were objectively stressful, they claim to be “fine” but then discuss the recent purchase with the appearance of shingles, and an increased interest in gaming late at night (two types of indicators that they could be fighting an ongoing stress response)–that’s the time that our psychologist’s warning signs are raised.

The Effects of Stress

Although stress is supposed to be an integral part of daily life, when your “fight, flight, freeze” response isn’t fully turned off your health starts getting affected. Problems are often triggered by several important areas, including physical, psychological, and social.

Psychological

The development of depression and anxiety is a major worry. There is a risk of constant worry since your brain is always searching for danger, or feeling lost due to the continuous overload that could cause sleep problems. Memory and concentration are frequently diminished due to the sheer volume of information.

Physical

The constant stress triggers adrenal glands in the body to secrete a chemical dubbed cortisol. A high concentration of cortisol in your body could cause excess weight, hypertension as well as periodontal problems, and fluctuations in blood pressure among others. It is also possible to experience flare-ups from underlying diseases like eczema, and IBS.

Behavioral

Because your body is clever, it recognizes that too much stress can be harmful to your health So it begins to crave substances that aid it to slow down or aid in its escape. Unfortunately, these aren’t always the healthiest–increased alcohol or drug intake, consumption of carbohydrate-heavy foods, and distraction methods like hours of mindless scrolling, just to name a few.

Interpersonal

It’s a matter of calm to being gentle! Do you ever notice that when you’re under the pressure of a deadline and you’re unable to cope with the inefficiency of others? Your brain’s programming is to ensure your safety and not to be kind (that could happen following you’re secure). There may be an increase in anger, irritation, or a lack of patience. Also, depending on your temperament, it could be a sign of increased desire to be a nuisance or cause people to leave.

How to Relieve Stress

Before I share some suggestions to bring your stress levels down, be aware of one fact: your brain could be adamant about doing these things. If your brain believes you’re “protecting” yourself, slowing down might be perceived as an act of threatening. You can simply observe the hesitation, tell you that it’s okay to slow down, and then give some of these suggestions.

Buy Yourself Time and Space

Giving your brain enough time to adapt to “come down” from stressful activities allows your body to manage in a healthy manner. If you’ve been bouncing between a virtual meeting and lunch preparation and then immediately to the midst of a hectic family phone call Make sure to leave some space. Take a moment before answering your phone, and take the chance to take a 5-minute break between family and work Set an alarm that will remind you to stretch out a few times every day, and figure out ways to share some of your tasks. Every little bit of effort helps.

Explore options that soothe your System

It could require several trials and errors, but discovering techniques for stress reduction that suit your needs can be beneficial for a long time to be. A few things to consider are moderate exercises (too excessive can trigger your body into “fight or flight”) Epsom salt baths breathing exercises such as meditation or even activities that are mindless such as coloring or making crafts. While you experiment make a note of what you have found to work so that you are able to access it whenever you require it.

Eliminate things that can amplify Your System

Alcohol, caffeine, high-sugar food items, and late-night smartphone scrolling can all be appealing when stress levels are high. Although they may provide temporary energy or a sense of relief, the more long-term result is typically an increase in anxiety and sleep disturbances.

When to Seek Treatment

If you’re overwhelmed isn’t an option. Many of my clients have admitted that they were afraid to make an appointment due to the fact that they weren’t sure if their issues are “bad” enough. Be assured that in therapy, there’s no such thing as “bad.

If you’re in the middle consider looking at how stress can impact your day-to-day life. If you’ve tried a few methods to manage your stress, but are still struggling to sleep, having difficulty staying focused, constant anxiety as well as any of the symptoms that are listed above, please contact an expert in health care. Utilizing the “Find a Therapist” tool on Psychology Today is the best place to find counselors in your region. Also, make sure you seek immediate assistance if you’re experiencing concerns about self-harm. There’s a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that is ready to assist you by calling 1-877-273-8255. It is not necessary to face this alone. You control the process, but you also have the benefit of having additional help in handling what could be an extremely heavy burden.