6 Long Term Effects Stress Can Have

Stress is defined as any disturbance in the regular activities of homeostasis. Homeostasis is when things are balanced in our bodies, there are many ways that stress can be introduced to your body, whether physically or mentally.

It doesn’t matter if it’s mental or physical stress, either. These things that happen to the body will not always occur, and it varies from person to person. Here are six common long-term effects chronic stress can have on you.

You feel tired and exhausted

Stress causes your body starts to pump out more adrenaline into your blood system. This boosts your energy levels and allows you to run away from danger, like a bear chasing you.

Over time, prolonged exposure to cortisol can reduce muscle tissue and bone mineral loss, increased appetite and abdominal weight gain, high blood pressure, and slower wound healing. This can lead to a weakened immune system.

You have trouble sleeping

Lack of sleep is a symptom of stress. However, sleep deprivation can cause stress as well.

When you are stressed, the body will release the hormone called cortisol which blocks your REM sleep, your deepest stage of sleep. During that stage is when you feel rested and refreshed after a long night's rest.

That is the only stage of sleep where your body repairs and rejuvenates itself. If you do not get enough sleep, you will be more prone to illness and disease.

You have trouble concentrating

While under stress, you might find it difficult to pay attention to other things going on around you.

Sometimes it might feel like people are talking around you, but you can't make out what they are saying because your mind is clouded with other thoughts. This does not mean that you cannot pay attention to things while under stress. This just means it will be more difficult than normal.

You feel more emotional

People might notice that you have become more irritable, anxious, depressed, or angry. This is due to the high levels of cortisol your body releases into your bloodstream, which can make it hard to control how you act or feel.

In contrast, while under stress, your body will also release higher dopamine levels into your brain, which can make you feel more happy and positive things. Unfortunately, due to this contrast, it's easy for some people to become addicted to drugs because their dopamine receptors are much more sensitive to the dopamine made when they are using drugs.

You feel more tired in the day

Stress drains your energy, even when you are not doing anything. Your body is constantly working hard to keep itself healthy, even if it’s not happening visibly. This causes you to tire out easily.

Your cells are constantly repairing themselves from daily wear and tear, your heart is pumping blood throughout your body, and you have a hard time sleeping. Without enough sleep, your immune system won't be as strong, and it will then feel very difficult for you to deal with stress.

You have very strong feelings of fear

Stress can leave you in a constant state of fear, and that danger is all around you.

This feeling of fear can vary greatly. It can range from small changes in behavior to panic attacks or nervous breakdowns.

If you're in a constant fear mode, it can cause health problems, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, headaches, stomach aches, fatigue, nausea, and irritability.

Being stressed out for long periods can have some harmful effects on how you are feeling or thinking about things. The negative effects of stress can grow to be a serious issue and become difficult to fix.

Everyone goes through periods of stress in their life, but if the stress is chronic, you should strongly consider taking action. You should consider engaging in activities that can help you relax, like reading or journaling. If you are suffering chronic stress due to previous trauma, consider going to trauma therapy. You must think about your health and what you can do to improve it.  

This is a guest blog entry.