While a small amount of stress can benefit you, says clinical psychologist Robin Kerner of St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York, too much stress, or long-term stress, can have negative effects on your health. Long-term stress doesn’t allow your body to recover from its effects. The normal fight or flight response has become a long-term situation, which you aren’t physically equipped to handle, according to Kerner, whose clinical specialties include disaster mental health, anxiety and stress.
Physical
Experiencing stress long term induces changes in your body, such as reducing your immunity to illness. Long-term stress can also make it easier for you to develop illnesses such as skin and stomach problems, headaches and asthma, according to the Mountain States Centers for Independent Living, an organization based in West Virginia that provides networking, advocacy and resources to adults with disabilities as well as their families.
Other physical ramifications of long-term stress include effects on your sex life, developing nervous behaviors and habits such as pacing, grinding your teeth and twitching. Experiencing long-term stress also contributes to a reduction in your energy level, making you feel constantly tired. You can develop digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, according to Helpguide, a nonprofit website offering mental health information.
Long-term stress increases your vulnerability to stroke, heart attack and infertility problems, and can also contribute to high blood pressure, according to Helpguide.
Cognitive
You can begin to experience cognitive impairments as you continue to experience increased stress on a long-term basis. These impairments include developing and using poor judgment, worrying constantly, memory problems, reduced ability to concentrate and focusing only on the negative aspects of your situation, according to Helpguide.
Mental/Emotional
You can become moody, depressed, irritable, feel isolated and agitated and overwhelmed as your exposure to long-term stress continues, according to the Helpguide website.
Behaviorally, your appetite can either increase or decrease. You can start sleeping much less or too much. You neglect responsibilities and procrastinate in carrying out your usual responsibilities, such as paying bills. You isolate yourself from other people as your stress continues, You might start smoking or drinking more or you could start using illicit drugs in order to deal with your stress, according to the MTSTCIL website. If you have never bitten your nails or paced before, your exposure to long-term stress could cause you to pick these habits up, according to the Helpguide website.
