The Dangers of Chronic Stress

Do you find yourself unable to cope with the pressures in your life? Can you remember the last time you were able to fully relax?

Chronic stress is when a person goes through prolonged periods of tension. While our bodies can handle acute stress, constant feelings of stress can negatively affect our health. This can be caused by everyday responsibilities such as work, or traumatic incidents that took place.

For the rest of this article, we’ll unpack what is chronic stress and the dangers of chronic stress on a person so you can better understand and manage it.

How does chronic stress affect you?

Many people suffer from long-term periods of stress. When this happens, it can have adverse effects on our bodies.

When we experience stress, our bodies release a hormone called cortisol. Otherwise known as the “stress hormone”, this ends up increasing our heart rate and blood pressure.

And long periods of this process if left untreated can be harmful. For one thing, it can cause heart disease or high blood pressure.

Chronic stress can also build up our insulin resistance, causing our blood sugar levels to rise. This makes it more likely for complications of diabetes to occur.

And more studies have found a link between stress and autoimmune diseases, like lupus. As a result, prolonged periods of stress can weaken our immune system over time. Thus, making it more likely for our bodies to be susceptible to infections or illness.

Chronic Stress Symptoms

• Feeling irritated, especially to extreme levels
• Low energy levels or fatigue
• Loss of sexual desire
• Difficulty sleeping
• Frequent infections or illnesses
• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in appetite
• Low self-esteem levels
• Rapid and chaotic thoughts
• Headaches

Can the body recover from chronic stress?

Can the body recover from chronic stress? Yes. Some things can be done to alleviate stress levels and improve one’s overall health.

When recovering from chronic stress, it might be difficult to assess how long it can take. Depending on how long a person has been suffering, it can either take weeks, days, or years.

What can be key to recovery though is detecting and treating it early. This allows for a better chance for improved symptoms.

Chronic stress can feel overwhelming and neverending for those who endure it. The prolonged effects are not only debilitating on our mental health, but also our physical health. And if left untreated, it can harm our bodies over time.

But the body can recover from chronic stress if measures are taken to manage stress levels. To avoid the dangers of chronic stress, you can incorporate more relaxation techniques or get rid of certain pressures in your life if possible! Whether it’s taking regular short breaks at work or seeking therapy for unresolved emotional trauma.

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