Understand The Negative Effects Of Stress
We often talk about stress, but not particularly closely. This results in us categorizing mental and physical unpleasant things and experiences into the same department. We may forget what the real negative effects of stress are.
The symptoms of stress are easy to identify, even for a layman. As long as you are connected to your own body, you will feel your own tendencies and be very grainy about what is happening to you. Remember that the content of this article is not intended to dazzle you, but to help you take better care of yourself.
The negative effects of stress on the body and mind
In today’s article, we’ll take a closer look at what the negative effects of stress are on your body and well-being.
Physiology of stress
Believe it or not, a small amount of stress is good.
Why? Because it is part of our evolution and the reason why humans have evolved over time to survive, in which case it is an acute stress response. A small amount of stress increases the pace of work and thus efficiency.
However, excessive or chronic stress directly affects the three systems of our body negatively : the endocrine system, the nervous system, and the defense system. This is only the first step in the negative effects, from it it continues elsewhere in the body.
- Stress activates all parts of the brain and causes a chain reaction.
- This causes the secretion of hormones and refreshes the pituitary gland, which at the same time secretes corticotropin.
- The latter activates the adrenal glands and thus the production of adrenaline and noradrenaline, as well as the production of corticosteroids and cortisol.
This chain reaction and abnormal hormone production affect all organs in the body as well as directly the functioning of the defense system.
Stages of stress
Hans Selye, an endicrinologist from Montreal, divided the body’s stress response into three fundamental phases: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
- Alarm. During the first phase, certain positive, stress-induced effects occur. The sympathetic nervous system is activated. Adrenaline and noradrenaline levels rise, which helps focus and raises alertness. Immediate consequences include high blood pressure and heart rate as well as sweating. This step should only take a moment.
- Resistance. The resistance phase is the result of an alarm phase that lasted too long. Metabolism changes and organs suffer from the negative consequences of the excitatory state of the nervous system as well as the consequences of hormone secretion.
- Exhaustion. The body changes due to the imbalance of the above systems due to stress. Symptoms and illnesses typical of stress appear.
Negative effects of stress on the body
1. Digestive system
In addition to the usual stress symptoms, stress can cause stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, or gastritis.
Stress contributes to poor eating habits such as irregular eating, eating junk food, skipping meals, and other similar behaviors.
2. Respiratory system
The negative effects of stress are visible either directly or indirectly in the respiratory system.
An indirect effect can manifest itself in a predisposition to respiratory diseases because stress weakens the defense system. The direct effect manifests itself in hyperventilation, dyspnea, severe asthma, and a feeling of suffocation.
3. The circulatory system
The effects of stress are most visible in the functioning of the circulatory system and some can have fatal consequences. These include: tachycardia, atherosclerosis, angina pectoris, heart attack, heart palpitations, etc.
4. Muscles and skin
Stress can disguise itself and show other symptoms. These include: acne, psoriasis, itching, eczema, muscle cramps, pain, stiffness, hiccups, hypersensitivity reflexes, baldness, etc.
5. The nervous system
It is unfortunate that the effects of stress are like tentacles that extend into every corner of life, reflecting our lifestyle and the consequences that come with it.
Stress brings with it other nasty problems such as anxiety, irritability, memory loss, headaches, migraines, addictions, depression, difficulty sleeping, mental thought disorders, personality disorders, fear states and eating disorders.
The negative effects of stress can lead to a loss of physical and mental integrity. Don’t compromise on psycho-emotional health at this point. That is why it is very important to seek treatment and look for tools to help yourself, love yourself and move on with your life.
