How Stress Affects Mental Health – Stress can be defined as how you feel when you are under abnormal pressure. Everyone experiences stress from time to time and it is a natural physical and mental reaction to life events. The following infographic from Study Medicine Europe examines the science of stress and provides an in-depth view of how stress can affect the body.
Did you know that 75-90% of all doctor visits are for stress-related illnesses and problems? A 2014 study by the American Psychiatric Association found that 77% of those surveyed regularly experienced physical symptoms caused by stress. These physical symptoms include:
How Stress Affects Mental Health
To gain a better understanding of how stress affects our physical health, you need to have some understanding of what is going on in the brain. When we feel stressed, the brain sends out distress signals that the body is flooded with adrenaline. This defines our “fight or flight response”, which puts the body into a survival mode, causing many physiological changes, such as:
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The brain then releases a stress hormone called cortisol that can temporarily change or temporarily stop functioning that leads to survival. Research has shown that the physical symptoms of stress are caused by this response, which diverts attention away from normal bodily functions.
Sometimes responding to stress can be a positive thing that gives us the energy and focus we need to get through a stressful situation. However, when encountered regularly over a long period of time, stress can have a detrimental effect on our well-being and can lead to a condition known as chronic stress. Chronic stress is associated with an increased risk of infections and diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and depression.
We all know the importance of maintaining our physical health, but many of us do not know how to be active in our mental health. An important part of maintaining a positive mental health is learning effective stress management techniques.
Try to keep a record of any cases of stress. After a while, you may be able to figure out a pattern, and this will help you identify your stress. This greater understanding will help you create a stress management plan.
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Everyone has their own way of coping with stress. Whether it is breathing exercises or confirmation, there will be effective stress management techniques for you. Experiment with various stress management techniques until you find a way that works for you. Learning how to deal with stress in a positive way is an important skill for leading a healthy and happy life.
Take care of your body by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Try to exercise regularly because your body can better withstand stress when it is fit. Adherence to a balanced and healthy diet is also a great way to help the body manage the physiological changes caused by stress. Quality sleep is also key because it will give you the energy you need to overcome stressful situations.
Be sure to see a doctor if you are in poor health and you think stress may be the cause. Do the same if you have taken steps to manage your stress but still have problems. It may also be a good idea to visit a career counselor or therapist who can help you identify the source of your stress and develop new coping tools.
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Aris Grigoriou is the Recruitment Manager for European Medical Studies. Study Medicine Europe is a medical student recruitment business with offices in the UK, Germany, Greece and Cyprus. They provide a place for prospective students from around the world to access affordable medical and veterinary courses at universities across Europe.
The opinions and views expressed in this guest blog do not necessarily reflect those of their sponsors, Laurel House, Inc. The authors will not be associated with any of the products or services mentioned in this article or linked to here. Stress is a normal reaction that everyone experiences. Our bodies can experience and react to stressful situations, whether it is something that threatens us or makes us uncomfortable. While a small amount of stress can be a good thing, it helps to keep us alert and motivated, but too much is not good for you. The same goes for stress. When we experience too much stress in the long run, it can affect our mental health. What is stress? Stress is the way our body resists and prepares us for threatening situations. Whether it is a real situation or a perception, our body is designed to make us ready to face these situations. When we are threatened, our bodies engage in stress response or ‘fight or flight’ to protect us. From danger. As our heart rate and blood pressure increase, our muscles tighten, our breathing becomes faster, and our emotions become clearer. These bodily responses occur when the nervous system releases stress hormones. The release of these stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, prepares and stimulates the body for emergencies. How does stress affect our body? Different people react differently to stressful situations. What may be stressful for one person may not be for another. Others are more adept at managing and managing their stress, while some are more stressed than others. When we experience stress in small quantities to respond to emergencies and prevent injuries, it can be helpful. When we experience stress in a positive form, it is called Eustress. Eustress is beneficial for our health and can provide motivation and productivity. But too much is rarely a good thing. The other side of the coin is grief. Stress is when our body experiences a series of stresses, including severe and chronic stress (when stress is prolonged or persists). Our bodies are not designed to withstand too much stress, and this can lead to both physical and mental health problems. When stress starts to interfere with your life, it can affect how you feel, communicate with others, be productive and quality of life. As well as negatively affecting your mental health, chronic stress can affect almost any system in your body. Weakened immune system, you may experience digestive problems and your heart rate will increase, making you more open to heart disease. As well as the physical and behavioral changes your body goes through when exposed to chronic and long-term stress, your mind is more vulnerable to mental health conditions. How does stress affect our mental health? Stress itself is not a mental health problem. But can not solve it can cause mental health problems. Psychological symptoms of stress include lack of concentration and difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness and struggle to make decisions and feel stressed. When we experience large amounts of stress over a long period of time, we are at greater risk of developing serious mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Chemicals that are released when the body responds to stressful situations can affect your memory and the part of the brain that controls emotions. When these hormones are released in large quantities, as well as in cases of chronic stress, continued feelings of depression and low energy will result. When these feelings of depression and low energy become normal everyday, they can affect your daily life. When someone experiences these depressive feelings, they may struggle to complete daily activities, keep work due to decreased work performance and maintain positive relationships. Depression can cause: Feelings of sadness or emptiness, cognitive difficulties, insomnia and difficulty sleeping, feeling lonely or clinging, fatigue, weight change, weight loss or weight gain, increased risk of self-harm or suicide, including For children who are depressed due to chronic illness. Stress is more likely to have other feelings related to mental health. Anxiety Anxiety is when we experience feelings of unhappiness, usually fear or anxiety. While we all feel anxious, it can sometimes become serious for some people, negatively impacting their lives. In this situation, anxiety becomes a mental health problem. Psychological effects of anxiety include stress or anxiety, difficulty concentrating, worst fears, insomnia, and chronic anxiety. Anxiety can occur due to stress. Loneliness Stress can also lead to feelings of loneliness and loneliness. Loneliness is a feeling that we all experience from time to time for many different reasons. Whether it is missing friends or family members or long-term with little or no social contact. While loneliness is not a mental health issue, the two are intertwined. Feelings of loneliness can affect our mental health, while mental health problems can also cause us to feel lonely. Older people can be especially vulnerable to feelings of loneliness and loneliness, with Age UK estimating that more than a million people are over the age of 75.
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