Stress. We all deal with it.
Some days it’s just a minor annoyance, like when your wifi decides to stop working right when you need it, and other days, it’s like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders (and no one notices it’s happening either, making it worse).
The thing to remember about stress is that it’s not just a mental issue – it’s got some real, physical symptoms that can appear in and on your body.
For example, it can mess with your sleep, give you headaches, and even cause mysterious aches and pains that nothing seems to be able to shift.
However, before you resign yourself to the idea that this is just how things are now, keep reading to find out more about how stress affects your body and, crucially, what to do about it.
How Stress Messes With Your Body
You might think stress is all in your head, but your body is definitely going to disagree with that.
The moment your brain senses stress, whether it’s coming from an upcoming deadline, an argument, or just not being able to find your phone, for example, it kicks into fight or flight mode.
That means you’ll get a rush of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline flooding your system, and it does that to get you ready to deal with whatever it is that’s causing you to feel stressed.
Now that probably sounds helpful, and in really challenging situations it definitely is, but in day-to-day life, this kind of stress can really take a toll, especially if it’s long-term.
For one thing, stress makes your muscles tense, so if you’ve ever felt like your shoulders are up by your ears after a stressful day, that’s why.
Over time, this can even lead to chronic pain, headaches, and posture issues.
Another issue is that stress and sleep don’t get along too well, and when your mind is racing at night, falling asleep becomes a struggle.
And even when you do sleep, stress can keep you in a lighter, less restorative state, so you’ll feel exhausted the next day.
What else can stress do? Well, it can affect your digestive system – perhaps you get a stomach ache when you’re anxious, or maybe it feels as though you’re all tied up in knots.
That’s stress. Your gut and brain are actually closely linked, so when stress hits, it can cause bloating, stomach cramps, and even more serious issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
And it gets even more serious than that… If you always seem to get sick right after you’ve been very stressed, that’s not a coincidence, and it’s not in your mind.
What it is is the fact that stress weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds, infections, and it can also mean your injuries take longer to heal.
And of course, stress is going to affect your heart, which is why it’ll often be pounding harder after something stressful happens.
Stress temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure (as we’ve said, that’s good in life or death situations), and over time, that chronic stress can lead to heart disease and other heart issues.
So now you know how stress is basically wreaking havoc on your body, what can you do about it? The good news is, you’ve got a few options.
How To Take Control And Lower Stress
Exercise is a really great thing for combating stress, and what’s great is that you don’t have to go to extremes – we’re not saying you’ve got to run a marathon or spend hours in the gym, after all.
Even a 10-minute walk can help to reduce stress by releasing endorphins – your body’s natural stress busters – to ensure that by the time you’re finished, you feel amazing and your stress levels are lower.
And things like yoga, stretching, or even just dancing around or playing with the kids can work wonders.
As an added bonus, movement helps with those tense muscles we talked about, so it works for all problems.
If you’re finding that the exercise you’re doing isn’t helping much when it comes to your muscle pains and body aches, then it might be wise to get some extra help.
When stress builds up, it affects your spine and nervous system as well, and visiting experts like Keystone Specific Chiropractic Center can help you get back in line – literally.
Something else that can help is cutting back on caffeine, which might sound awful, but remember, we’re not saying you have to stop having it totally – you just need to have less of it to reduce the symptoms of stress.
The fact is that too much caffeine can ramp up your anxiety and that’s going to make you feel even more on edge, and once you have less of it, you’re sure to feel the difference.
If you still want a hot drink, what about going for herbal tea instead? That can be a brilliant option, especially if it’s close to bedtime.
Another good idea to reduce your stress levels is to spend time doing something that makes you feel good, is fun, and that calms your mind – in other words, it’s time to get a hobby.
If you can find an activity that helps you unwind, which could be anything from reading to running to pottery to collecting things and so on, then you’ll be shifting your focus away from whatever it is that’s making you feel stressed, and you’ll feel a lot more relaxed.
Your body will have a chance to de-stress and when you’re done with your hobby, you’ll feel much more clear-minded and happy.
Finally, what about spending time with people who lift you up and make you feel good?
As humans, social connection is really important, and it’s a wonderful way to relieve stress as well.
You might call a friend or go out with some people, or you could send some texts or perhaps connect online.
Whatever it is, knowing there are people out there who can help you and support you can often be enough to make you feel calmer so your body and mind can recover.