Chronic Stress and Health
You may have been experiencing severe stress and thinking about seeking counseling or therapy for all the other issues it is causing. But are you really stressed and need to make an appointment with a counselor or therapist? Or are these feelings of overwhelm and fatigue only temporary?
What is stress and how does it affect your brain and body?
Stress is your body’s natural response to any external stimuli that are harmful to you. These harmful situations could be real or perceived and will release adrenaline in your body to elicit a fight or flight response. While a little bit of stress is good for you, too much of it can cause various debilitating lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular illnesses due to other hormones such as cortisol.
If you experience chronic stress and anxiety, you have most likely experienced at least some of the symptoms of constant stress-induced adrenaline rush, such as:
Becoming irritated or frustrated easily
Experiencing mood swings
Feeling like everything (including yourself) is out of control
Being unable to relax
Feeling bad about yourself and feeling lonely, worthless, or depressed
Constantly low levels of energy
Headaches
Disrupted sleep patterns (insomnia or sleeping too much)
Frequent minor illness such as minor colds and infections
Rapid heartbeat or chest pains, shaking limbs, and excessive sweating
Having a dry mouth
A clenched jaw or grinding your teeth
Pessimistic thinking, constantly worrying, and being unable to stop racing thoughts
Being forgetful, disoriented or disorganized, unable to focus, and lack of good judgment
Changes in appetite
Increased use of substances such as alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs
Procrastination and not taking responsibilities
Other nervous behavior such as fidgeting, pacing, and nail-biting.
While there are so many pointers to indicate that you are under stress, it is likely that you may have missed the early signs. You may have realized something was wrong only after it culminated into more serious behavioral or physical symptoms.
Effects of chronic stress
Chronic stress disrupts almost your entire physical system. It especially affects your immune, digestive, and reproductive systems. It also puts you at greater risk of a heart attack or stroke and also speeds up the aging process.
When under too much stress, your liver produces excess glucose, which makes you more susceptible to type 2 diabetes. You can even experience severe heartburn or acid reflux due to excess acid generation in your stomach caused by the rush of hormones. It could also increase your risk for ulcers.
You’re not alone!
It may be overwhelming to experience so much stress and the overwhelm will only add to it. But don’t worry, you’re never alone! Whenever you feel you might be experiencing stress or any of the other symptoms given above, you can always seek help from a trained counselor or therapist at Therapycts in Tampa, FL. Book your appointments now to break the stress cycle and create a happier, healthier lifestyle for yourself!
NEED HELP?
Collaborative Therapeutic Services (CTS) wants to help. We offer a variety of counselling and therapy services, hours, and service providers with diverse specializations. We offer evening & weekend appointments in office or by TeleHealth conferencing.
Have questions? Contact Us Here or Call 813-951-7346. Located in Tampa, Florida. Ask us about our new NEUROLEASE™ TREATMENT THERAPY - A cutting edge treatment for releasing toxic emotions.