Stress is something that everyone experiences at some stage in their lives and with the pace of modern life, many begin to feel that a state of permanent stress is almost normal. Experiencing chronic stress takes a lot from energy reserves and can cause many bodily systems to take the strain as too much energy is being expended on coping with stress. There are many signs that that stress is negatively impacting your health that can often go unnoticed. Some of these might be of surprise. Furthermore, here are 8 signs of too much stress in your body.
Digestive Problems
The digestive system is often one of the first bodily areas to register symptoms of stress. Digestive complaints are very often closely linked to our mental state which can send signals to the stomach, causing increased production of stomach acids and unpleasant conditions such as heartburn and diarrhea. Those that experience chronic stress experience raised levels of cortisol, responsible for increased appetite, particularly for carbohydrates. Supplementing ION Biome Gut Health can tremendously help get your gut health and digestive system back on track.
Headaches
Tension headaches are caused by tension in the neck and scalp muscles, which is often a symptom of anxiety and stress. Sufferers that that are already headache prone will often not realize that any of their headaches are due to stress. A change in the types of headaches experienced and their severity and the occurrence of migraines may be a signal that the body is experiencing higher stress levels than usual.
Getting Ill Easily
Stress has an adverse effect on the immune system, causing the release of cortisol which suppresses a hormone that assists the immune system. This makes getting ill from coming into contact with germs and bacteria, far more likely. Once sick, it is also far more difficult to fight the infection, resulting in longer bouts of illness.
Sleep Problems
The first thing to suffer from an excess of stress is often a good night’s sleep. Stress can make it much more difficult to fall asleep at night, as the causes of stress are carried into sleep, waking you up and making it much harder to fall asleep again. As the body thinks that it is in fight or flight mode, it can cause you to have to stay awake, and because your body can’t relax, neither can your mind. This is especially troubling as good sleep is essential for mental and general health. Another added benefit of incorporating EMF Rocks into your space. Our systems become overwhelmed with all the WIFI frequencies and can feel charged after spending too much time near technology. Next time you are in our office be sure to ask about how EMF Rocks can help!
Increased Sweating
Sweating is normal, especially in hot weather, but sweat as a result of stress is of a different kind. Sweat that is released due to emotions is released by the apocrine glands and is made up of fatty acids and proteins, producing a heavier sweat. The release of adrenaline enables a fast reaction to threatening situations and stress sweat is chiefly triggered by adrenaline. Excess adrenaline can produce excess sweat from areas such as the armpits, hands, and feet, as well as throughout the body.
Irritability
Too much stress causes the brain to operate on a survival level only, causing the nervous system to be on overdrive and the sensory receptors to be more sensitive to any “extraneous input/stimulation”. This heightens the nervous system’s response and makes every situation seem more serious/intense, increasing reactivity.
Changes in Libido
One of the first casualties of an excess of stress is often a person’s sex life. A decreased sex drive is often due to stress and an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol. This hormone interferes with the hormone balance and leads to a lowering in the level of libido, despite the fact that sex reduces stress.
Apathy
No longer engaging in the activities that used to bring you enjoyment could mean that you are overly stressed. When the body experiences very stressful situations, it can release stress hormones that prevent the experience of joy or happiness in everyday activities. Finding it impossible to perform the activities that used to be enjoyed such as walking, exercising and being with friends can also be an indication of depression.
Stress experienced for a limited period of time can be accommodated by the body, but left unchecked it can have a negative impact on health and functioning. Stress is often overlooked, with sufferers seeing symptoms in isolation instead of as part of a bigger problem. There are many ways to successfully manage and relieve stress and recognizing the condition can lead to an identification of the causes and a return to health and improved well-being.
All of the healing modalities we offer at our practice care can immensely help reduce stress and increase a higher quality of life. If you haven’t already, be sure to learn more about our services or if you are ready to begin your healing journey call our office today!
