what stress does to the body

Stress is the accumulation of tension due to physical, mental, and/or emotional demands. When stress occurs, the body defaults to fight or flight mode (the state in which the body prepares us to either battle against, escape, threats).  This mode increases the heart rate, tightens the body, accelerates breathing, and modifies other bodily functions to prepare us best to respond to our environment.  While this response is meant to protect us from harm or danger, chronic stress can quickly become toxic. 

Unresolved or persistent stress can impact functioning in nearly all the systems in the body.  After coming into contact with undue internal or external pressures, systems in the body will abandon balance to support the fight or flight response.  Short-term effects of this may be headaches, stomachaches, tightness in certain areas of the body, loss of appetite, lethargy, etc.  Long term, the effects are many and extreme.

One of the ways stress can impact the body long-term is through conditions such as high blood pressure and sugar, sleep issues, and sexual or reproductive difficulties.  Stress hormones change the performance of our organs and how the body communicates with itself, creating an environment that can cause damage to our internal systems.  People who live with chronic stress are more likely to be at risk for heart attacks/disease, compromised immune systems, strokes, and other major issues.

Another way stress can impact the body is through behavior we adopt to attempt to manage stress.  People who sustain more stress also tend to choose methods of coping that are harmful to the body, such as the use of drugs, alcohol, eating unhealthy foods, or not eating enough.  These adaptations to stress can then propel the stress cycle, contributing to many of the short and long-term issues mentioned above.

There are many ways in which to regulate the stress response.  Mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and other similar practices are great at reducing the heart rate, slowing breathing, ridding the body of built-up tension, and returning the body to a state of balance.  Self-care outside of these techniques is important as well.  What do you know is helpful to reduce your stress?  Maybe that’s binge-watching Netflix, taking a bubble bath, getting some much-needed alone time, utilizing the gym, etc. 

Whatever it is, giving yourself a break from the hustle and bustle is necessary so you can expel stress and reboot!