For many of us, stress is just a byproduct of our daily lives that we've learned to deal with, but it's important to address the causes of stress because stress can fuel mood disorders that can affect our mental health.
Emotional stress can manifest itself in physical symptoms. There are several physical signs that your mental and emotional health is under pressure:
Lack of energy
Stress not only affects your mind, it also affects your physiology by releasing the hormone cortisol into your bloodstream, which mimics physical exertion by increasing your breathing and heart rate, leaving you unnecessarily tired and lethargic. Stress can also be a culprit for lack of sleep because it interferes with your body's ability to regulate sleep and wake instincts, causing insomnia.
Teeth grinding
Bruxism, or teeth grinding in your sleep, can cause major problems with your oral health, including jaw pain, permanent tooth damage, and headaches. Stress-induced creaking is associated with increased activity in your subconscious when you sleep; when you're not "on guard," your body uses your mouth as a valve for increased stress.
You get sick easily
When stress causes the release of cortisol into the bloodstream, it inadvertently prevents the normal function of your immune system. One important way it does this is by suppressing the release of the hormone DHEA, which supports immune function.
Changes in eating habits
"Stress eating" often causes the release of cortisol, which increases appetite and coincides with your low morale, leading to reaching for typical comfort foods. On the other hand, many people with stress problems also experience loss of appetite, which is believed to be related to the presence of corticotropin-releasing hormone which suppresses appetite.
Consequences of stress
The consequences of long-term or intense stress can lead to serious damage to health.
Experts have determined that due to the increased stress of workers, there is a drastic reduction in productivity and frequent injuries at the workplace or in traffic accidents, reports Nezavisne.
Bonus video:
