Stress doesn't always have to be associated with a negative event. According to the American Institute of Stress, "Stress is difficult for scientists to define because it is a subjective sensation associated with varied symptoms that differ for each of us....Increased stress increases productivity--up to a point, after which things rapidly deteriorate, and that level also differs for each of us." Stress becomes a problem when it's associated with feeling out of control of one's situation. Even low levels of stress that aren't addressed can lead to health problems. Stress has been linked as a contributing factor in many chronic conditions, so it's important to understand how stress can affect your body and then take steps to manage it
Pain
Feeling stressed can lead to chest pain, headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, back pain and arthritis-like symptoms. When your stress response is activated, muscles tighten in order to help you fight or flee the situation. If you don't take steps to relieve this, your muscles are in a constant state of contraction, which can lead to tightness and pain.
Digestive Problems
In order to prepare your body to handle the stress, your system slows down the activity of your digestive system so your body has more energy available to cope. If you're under constant stress, the normal functioning of your digestive system may be interrupted. This can lead to symptoms such as indigestion, heartburn, stomachaches, nausea, changes in appetite, weight gain or loss and bowel and bladder irregularities.
Mood Swings
If your stress levels aren't contained, you may experience severe mood swings. You may become agitated and lash out at others. You may be prone to crying spells and feeling depressed. There may also be a loss of interest in hobbies and social activities. You may be irritable and feel nervous or anxious.
Sleep Disturbance
Feeling stressed can interrupt your sleep. You may end up feeling fatigued and have difficulty concentrating and making decisions. This may eventually create problems at work. Stress in some cases can lead to nightmares and turn into insomnia. Insomnia that goes untreated can lead to serious health problems.
Immune System Issues
As with your digestive system, stress hormones reduce the activity of your immune system so energy is available for other tasks. If your immune system is chronically depressed, you are more susceptible to getting a cold, flu, cancer and autoimmune diseases. See the link below for the National Institutes of Health for comprehensive information on stress and your immune system.
Considerations
If you don't take steps to manage stress, you could look to find relief through unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. This can include taking up or increasing smoking, not exercising, drinking, overeating unhealthy foods and use of over-the-counter medications. All of these can compound any symptoms or health issues caused by stress.
