The Impact of Stress on Your Life
Stress is the body’s natural response to threats and danger. It is often the case that stress is the body’s attempt to protect itself from immediate danger.
In fact, some studies have shown that a stressed person’s immune system actually increases the number of toxins in the body. While stress may not harm you directly, it can have negative effects on your health. Stress can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain. It can also interfere with your ability to concentrate, think clearly, and relax.
Research indicates that stress can have harmful effects on the body. Therefore, people with high levels of stress are at an increased risk for developing the following:
Stress and Health Problems – Stress can take many forms and affects people in many ways. You may be stressed about losing your job, being stuck in traffic, or having trouble making it through the day. Or, you may be stressed about spending so much money each month on bills, mortgage, and other bills.
Stress and Mental Health Issues – You are more likely to develop symptoms of stress if you are living in poor conditions or if you live in poverty. When you feel stressed, you can become angry, anxious, irritable, overwhelmed, depressed, short-tempered, and/or can lose control. This can result in unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, drinking alcohol or taking drugs, or becoming overly physically active.
Stress and Weight Loss – When you are constantly stressed, your body reacts by lowering your metabolism and increasing your appetite. One of the most common effects of stress is weight loss. This is due to your body, feeling the need to burn off extra energy that it is no longer using. Eating is more likely when your mind is constantly thinking about food and how much you want it.
Stress and Social Activity – One of the many other effects of stress is decreased social interaction. Many people become socially isolated when they are in high levels of stress. The result of this isolation is that they will be less likely to participate in social activities.
Stress and Relationships – It is well known that stress affects relationships in a negative way. When you are constantly in a stressful situation, you may feel guilty or guiltier about things you did or said. The result is that you withdraw further away from your partner.
Stress and Work – In addition to affecting our relationships, stress affects our work. When we are constantly being stressed, we may become too tired to finish projects, to focus, or to complete other important tasks. Some research suggests that stress can actually lower the speed at which we work.
Stress and Family Life – It has been found that stress can greatly affect the way you interact with your family. When a person becomes chronically stressed, their mood can change and they may become overly argumentative or otherwise annoying. This can result in arguments that lead to separation or divorce.
It is important to recognize the impact of stress on your life and take steps to manage your stress. By dealing with your stress you will be better able to avoid the negative effects that stress can have on your health and your life.
