1. The side effects of stress can be either short-term or long-term or both.
The side effects of stress can range from brief and minor to long-term and severe. The short-term side effects are typically easier to manage but certain side effects can present themselves in both short-term and long-term situations. For example, poor immunity, a common side effect of stress, can be dangerous over the long-term, leading to cancer and heart disease; on the other hand, a compromised immune system can also present itself in the form of an annoying but relatively benign fever blister. Basically, all side effects of stress can cause normal and healthy physical, emotional and mental actions to slow or stop altogether.
2. Stress can pack on the pounds.
Unfortunately, weight gain is a side effect of stress that is not nearly as well-known as other side effects. The culprit can be repetitive and unchecked impulses to eat junk food in order to comfort oneself during stressful times, or it can be your metabolism working against you. Stress hormones have been known to send a message to your metabolic system that says fat must be stored rather than used up.
3. Bags under your eyes are the least of your worries.
Insomnia and restless nights are another side effect of stress. Sleep deprivation is no simple matter; short-term, sleeplessness can be inconvenient and difficult, but long-term sleep problems can lead to emotional problems of a more complicated nature. This side effect is particularly challenging; stress often leads to a sense of constant worry, which can keep you up; feeling unrested and exhausted only exacerbates the worry and steals away your energy reserves.
4. Some mood disorders can be traced back to the negative effects of stress.
Stress can lead to depression. This mood disorder is sometimes the result of unrelenting tension and anxiety; feeling out of control and overwhelmed are side effects of both depression and stress. It's no wonder that the two conditions are often linked together. Sometimes, it's actually very difficult to tell which condition started first, as one can often feed the other in a negative and unhealthy way.
5. Daily life can be distracting enough, but wait until you're stressed out
A particularly irritating side effect of stress relates to its impact on the brain. Memory loss, increased propensity towards accidents, impulsivity and poor judgment are possible side effects of stress; an individual dealing with stress often finds it difficult to concentrate due to stress-induced headaches or a general scatterbrained feeling that characterizes stress.
