Stress management

Life has plenty of stressful moments, and to some degree, it is normal to feel distressed when things get a little hectic. However, if your stress starts to feel overwhelming or affects your emotional, mental and physical health, you may be dealing with chronic stress.

What is stress?

Stress is considered a normal bodily response to demanding situations. This bodily response is known as the flight or fight response, and it stimulates the release of stress hormones called adrenaline and cortisol. These stress-related hormones typically help you tackle challenging moments. Still, if your body were in a constant perpetual state of overwhelm, the high-stress levels would manifest into emotional, mental and physical symptoms.

The symptoms of stress

Physical symptoms of stress include:

• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Stomach aches
• Body pain
• Acne or breakouts
• Digestive issues

Mental symptoms of stress include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Suicidal ideation
• Food and eating issues
• Addictions or compulsions
• Substance abuse

Emotional symptoms of stress include:

• Irritability
• Sadness
• Anger
• Apathy
• Overwhelm

If you are worried about how these symptoms affect you, it is okay to reach out for help. Talking about your stress can help you learn how to manage it.

How stress affects mental and physical health

Chronic stress can contribute to numerous mental health and physical health issues.

Studies have shown that high-stress levels can lead to:

• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Feeling more or less hungry than usual
• Self-soothing with drugs or alcohol
• Changes in mood or mental health
• Less productivity and enjoyment at work
• Intimacy problems
• Migraine headaches
• Chronic pain
• Anger issues
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Loss of enjoyment in social activities
• Heart attack and stroke