Stress can be an overwhelming emotion. However, it can actually impact your mental and physical health when not monitored and dealt with properly.
With one-third of Americans saying that their stress levels impact their physical and mental health, it’s time to take action on this debilitating condition. This post will outline the symptoms to look out for if you suffer from chronic stress.
You're Always Sick
Stress can weaken our immune systems. This means it’s harder for our bodies to fight off sicknesses. From the common cold to cold sores, the immune system can’t suppress viruses as well, which means we are left to suffer many more times than those that aren’t stressed.
Brain Fog and Anxiety
If your brain simply feels off or foggy, you might be chronically stressed. Too much stress can make it really hard to concentrate on even the most simple tasks and make them feel overwhelming, hard to do, and difficult to remember. If your brain simply feels off or foggy, you might be chronically stressed.
Hives
Hives are itchy red bumps that cover your body. If you’ve not eaten any new foods or tried any different substances, it might be that stress is to blame for this outbreak.
When our bodies experience high levels of stress, it releases histamine into the body to fight the symptoms like an allergy. However, if the stress doesn’t leave the body, we instead develop an allergic reaction, which is why the hives appear.
Weight Fluctuation
Stress can impact our weight. It releases the chemical cortisol in our bodies, which in turn impacts the body’s ability to metabolize fat, protein, and carbs due to the changing of its ability to process blood sugar effectively. This can lead to weight changes. Plus, stress can impact our eating routine, so it can cause us to overeat or undereat, depending on how we react.
Headaches
High levels of stress can cause severe headaches and even migraines. This is because of a chemical reaction that happens when we are stressed. Plus, cause our muscles to tense up which in turn can make our head hurt. If you’re not prone to headaches, but suddenly find yourself in pain - it might be a sign that you are stressed.
An Upset Stomach
Our stress levels can massively impact our stomachs. You may be left feeling bloated and uncomfortable or even suffering symptoms of diarrhea. Stress causes the body to release more digestive acid, which in turn slows the emptying of food from the stomach, leading us to feel uncomfortable.
If you’re suffering from stomach troubles, check out what might be causing you to be overly stressed. Stress is overwhelming. But, while many of us deal with it in that present moment, it can have chronic and long-lasting effects on our bodies.
From always being sick to tummy issues, and even breaking out in hives, stress is something to take seriously and deal with head-on. If you want a helping hand with your stress levels, then start your journey with Reflect. You can monitor your stress levels and symptoms from the app.
You’re the one in control of your own life, so if you can, try and separate yourself from the narrative and make a situation less stressful for you. Your mental and physical health will thank you for it.
