Everyone feels stress to a certain degree. Between bills, work and a family to care for, it is bound to happen at some point. However, when stress begins to overwhelm you and affect your health in an adverse way, it may be time to seek the help of a professional. Recognizing the difference between normal stress and debilitating stress is the key.
Financial Problems
Financial problems are one cause of stress. Financial problems can be caused by the inability to pay your bills, the purchase of a new home or car or the buildup of credit card bills. Incessant phone calls from debtors only add to your stress levels, leaving you feeling completely overwhelmed.
This doesn't affect only the middle-aged, though. College students may fall under the weight of having to pay back student loans, while elderly who live on fixed incomes may fret about how they will pay for their heating bill or purchase groceries.
Family Life
For many, there is nothing better than coming home to a loving spouse and children. However, life isn't always peaches and cream and can present a new curve ball every day. As your children become older, you may find yourself dealing with an uncooperative teen, which is another source of stress, as the Mayo Clinic explains.
In addition, there is always the possibility that you need to care for an elderly parent whose health has declined. This alone can be a major source of stress, as it is not only a greater financial burden, but an emotional one as well.
The Workplace
Once you find a good job, your goal is to work hard and keep it. You may stress over how you plan to earn promotions, and thus increase your income. Job security becomes your number one priority; therefore, you do all you can to ensure this happens, including working as many hours as needed to prove yourself. This may cause tension at home.
Once you are promoted, you may find that fellow employees you have worked with for months or years -- people you considered friends -- are now resenting you. All of these issues can take a tremendous toll on you mentally, which can present itself in a physical manner.
Personal Health
While stress can cause certain health problems, it may also be a result of existing health problems. If you are diagnosed with conditions such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes, you may find yourself feeling more stressed than usual as you worry about what the future holds for you. Unfortunately, high levels of stress can only exacerbate these conditions.
Those who are overweight, even if it is by 20 or 30 lb., may find themselves becoming extremely overwhelmed about losing weight, especially if they have tried unsuccessfully multiple times to lose weight in the past. Again, stress may be the one thing that is preventing this weight loss from occurring, as it increases the stress hormone cortisol. This hormone, when produced in excess, prevents the loss of belly fat.
