Stress is a biological response of your body against a threat or difficult situation. Our bodies are designed in such a way that they release stimulating hormones when it they are exposed to stressful situations. When the stressful situation goes away, release of the activating hormones is stopped immediately and the body comes back to a normal, relaxing state. Problem starts when the body perceives that it is continuously exposed to a threatful situation. As a result, it persistently keeps itself ready for “fight or flight response” situation by maintaining continuous release activating hormones in the blood. This is what chronic stress does to your body.
What is Chronic Stress?
Do you feel that you’re stressed most of time during the day? Then there are high chances that you are suffering from chronic stress. Chronic stress is the response of the body against persistent and prolonged emotional pressure. In this state, the stress is so overwhelming that the victims feel they have little control over it. So basically a vicious cycle is initiated causing further anxiety and deterioration in physical and mental health.
What are the Signs of Chronic Stress?
When the stress becomes out of control, your body will start giving you signs that the level of stress is going beyond its ability to handle. According to the statistics provided by the American Psychological Association (APA) about 77% percent of Americans feel physical symptoms of stress on a regular basis.Here are some common symptoms of chronic stress:
- Restlessness – this is one of the major signs of chronic stress. This happens because the body releases stimulating hormones into the blood in response to the continued state of stress.
- Difficulty to Sleep – people who are victims of chronic stress often find it difficult to sleep during the night. Again, this is due to the persistently “activated” state of the body which is caused due to chronic stress.
- Constant Fear or Worry – people suffering from chronic stress are always afraid or worry about something or some event which has very less chances of taking place.
- Mood Swings – another common symptom of chronic stress is the frequent changes in mood for no apparent reasons.
- Inability to Concentrate – due to the overwhelming level of stress, victims of chronic stress are unable to focus or concentrate on daily life routines like going to work, driving or taking care of household chores.
- Anxiety – individuals suffering from chronic stress persistently feel tightness or pain in the chest, which is one of the most common signs of anxiety or depression.
If you feel that you are having some or all of these symptoms, then you may also be a victim of chronic stress. If this is happening to you, then should expert help as soon as possible.
What Chronic Stress Does to your Body?
Chronic stress is a silent and slow killer. Unlike other forms of illnesses in which the symptoms are obvious and are easy to diagnose, the symptoms of chronic stress remain hidden inside the body until they have caused irreparable damage to your physical and mental health. Here’s how chronic stress is harmful for the body:
- Cardiovascular Problems – chronic stress exposes your body to an increased risk of heart problems. The stressor hormones released from the brain not only increase the blood pressure but they also increase the heart rate. This puts an increased pressure on the heart thereby reducing its efficiency and health.
- Immune System Problems – current research has also shown that continued stress in your life can also damage the immune system, resulting in a weak and inefficient immune system.
- Digestive Problems – when the body remains in a continued state of stress, the brain diverts the blood flow from the digestive organs to other organs which are essential for coping in a “fight or flight” situation like the brain, heart, eyes and the limbs. As a result, the normal functioning of the digestive system is seriously impaired, leading to poor nutrition and health.
- Sexual Dysfunction – another disastrous effect of chronic stress on the body is the decrease in sex drive which results from the sustained release of the stressor hormones.
How to Treat Chronic Stress?
The first step in the treatment of chronic stress is the identification of the underlying cause. If you feel that you are suffering from chronic stress, then you should visit your doctor immediately for treatment. Treatment of chronic stress involves a team effort by your doctor, psychiatrist, you and other healthcare professionals.
- Psychiatric Treatment – your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist so that you are able to identify the underlying cause of your elevated stress levels. In addition, your psychiatrist will also teach you with various techniques and exercises which will help you in keeping calm and focused in stressful situations.
- Self-help Strategies – you can also learn various DIY and self help strategies like breathing exercises and hypnosis, which can help you in reducing the stress levels.
- Lifestyle Changes – by adopting a healthy and active lifestyle, you will feel tremendous reduction of stress in your life. Just make sure that you eat a healthy and balanced diet, and you exercise regularly. That’s it!
- Medication – various forms of medical treatment protocols are available for the treatment of chronic stress. While the conventional antidepressant drugs carry significant side-effects, Springfield wellness Center offers you a completely safe and highly effective option for getting rid of stress. Our proprietary BR+ NAD treatment protocol has been found to be effective in the treatment of nearly all forms of nervous disorders.
Everyone deserves to live a happy and satisfying life. If you are a victim of any form of nervous disorders or addictions, then Springfield Wellness Center is there to help you start afresh with a happy and fulfilling. So, what are you waiting for? Visit us today and say hello to a beautiful life.
