Stress Can Damage Your Emotional and Physical Well-Being
Stress is not tangible, and sometimes it’s difficult to apply the principles of stress management because it’s hard to see, so let’s think of the overall response to stress as a tensioned rope in a rescue system. Under tension, each fibre plays a role in the strength of the rope and the system as a whole.
Over time though, if that stress begins to build beyond the rated capacity of the rope, one by one, each fibre may begin to give. At first this will happen slowly with one or two fibres starting to break, however as more and more stress is put on the system, and the rope begins to weaken even further due to a reduced overall capacity, the fibres begin to break at a more rapid pace, until there is no more capacity to hold the load on the system due to overwhelming pressure and stress applied.
Stress on the human body is no different. The more stress put on our system, and the weaker it becomes due to one or two of those fibres that have become compromised, a domino effect ensues unless we find a way to reduce overall weight being applied so that the system doesn’t become overwhelmed.
It’s important to understand as well, that stress doesn’t differentiate, and whether it’s family pressure, financial pressure, or pressure caused by a global health crisis, it all adds weight, and we need to ensure that the weight doesn’t exceed the capacity.
All of us have a stress response, also known as a “fight-or-flight” reaction, which causes your body to release adrenalin and cortisol that help you to stay alert and focused. During this heightened state, your body’s response can help you find the motivation to take action to get something done, or in an emergency situation, potentially save your life.
Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, our modern world was filled with financial and family pressures, hectic schedules, and job security.
Stress has now become a part of daily life.
When your body’s stress response alarm is always “on”, stress stops creating positive responses and instead begins to potentially cause damage to your physical and mental health including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression.
Step 1 – Recognizing the source
The first step in managing stress and your response to it is recognizing the stress symptoms affecting your body and minimizing the impact on your well-being.
Common Stress Sources:
- Life Transitions – This includes major changes such as death, illness, divorce, job loss, etc. These also include things like a child’s birth, starting a new job, or transitioning to work from home.
- Outside Sources – Events or actions that affect you but which you have no control over, such as the current pandemic, a natural disaster, or a financial crisis.
- Clutter – This could include clutter in your house, or noise, light, and environmental pollution
- Work – Deadlines, unrealistic expectations, toxic co-workers, and even increased demands of a promotion could cause stress in your work environment.
- Family Demands – Young children, ailing family members, and family feuds, can add a very large amount of stress, especially when working from home.
Step 2 – Recognizing the symptoms
The symptoms of stress can impact you both physically and mentally. Stress can cause headaches, trouble sleeping and a lack of motivation at work and these can be common warning signs that you’re experiencing unhealthy amounts of stress. These signs should not be ignored, they are your body’s way of warning you that your stress levels are too high.
Physical symptoms of stress can include:
- Headache
- Muscle tension and pain
- Fatigue
- Sweating/hot and cold flashes
- Chest pain and/or rapid heartbeat
- Upset stomach, diarrhea or constipation
- Frequent colds
Stress-related behaviours and emotions can include:
- Anxiety
- Lack of focus or motivation
- Depression or general unhappiness
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Aggression
- Insomnia and nightmares
- Overeating or undereating
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Social withdrawal
- Memory loss
Step 3 – Taking action to manage stress
Stress can have serious short and long-term impacts on your body and mind. Experts say that up to 50% of all illnesses are caused by stress. Recognizing the warning signs of stress overload and knowing your limits are very important skills in managing stress. Everyone’s stress limits are different and some people are more easily adaptable to stressful situations, while others react by shutting themselves down.
Your individual stress threshold is dependent on several factors such as your outlook on life, emotional health, genetics, quality of relationships and support network. The dangerous effects of stress can sneak up on you, especially when it seems to become part of your regular routine.
Recognizing high stress levels, defining and limiting stress triggers and finding the coping methods that work best for you are essential to managing stress. We will visit some more common ways to deal with stressful scenarios as we continue our wellness series.