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Stress is a condition that many (if not all) people encounter at least once in their life. Whether it’s because of school, work, or relationship, stress can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and even physical health. Although it can be tempting to simply ignore stress and go on with your life like it’s no big deal, there’s more to stress than just an expression of exhaustion. Stress can take a toll on the body in many ways.
Stress is the body’s normal biological response to stimulus. It gives your system a burst of energy that triggers the natural “fight or flight” response, enabling your body to react to situations accordingly. This condition can be classified into two types: good stress and bad stress.
Good Stress
Good stress, also known as short-lived stress or acute stress, may provide benefits that can help you perform better.
Increases Energy
Acute stress results in a few physiological, neurological, and behavioral changes. For instance, it activates the body’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which releases glucocorticoids — a chemical that promotes energy replenishment and cardiovascular function.
Strengthens the Immune System
In small to moderate doses, stress can also strengthen one’s immune system. Although it has a bad reputation, stress is actually one of the body’s fundamental survival mechanisms. Short-term stress (one that lasts for a few minutes to a few hours) can, in fact, enhance one’s innate and adaptive immune responses.
Increases Stress Immunity
Acute stress may help improve a person’s resilience, enabling him or her to respond to other stressful situations that may come his or her way, better. This was observed during a study on hospitalized burn victims.
Bad Stress
When stress becomes chronic (one that lasts for weeks and even months), like a failing marriage or problems at work, it may develop into a health hazard. Unfortunately, this type of condition is often ignored and thus goes on for a long period — to a point where the person becomes used to it and thinks of it as “normal” — not realizing that it’s slowly damaging his or her health.
When you’re chronically stressed, your body constantly stays alert, and over time, this can lead to a number of physical and mental issues.
Increases High Blood Pressure
Exposure to long-term stress is one of the causes of hypertension. Stressful situations — both physical and mental — can cause blood pressure levels to spike.
Weakens the Immune System
Long-term stress suppresses an individual’s immune responses, inducing chronic inflammation and suppressing the function of immunoprotective cells, as a result. This makes one vulnerable to a number of diseases.
Causes Skin Problems
Notice those breakouts whenever you’re cramming before an exam or when there’s an upcoming project deadline and you’re pressed for time? Stress may cause skin problems like acne. As a matter of fact, a study confirms a significant association between stress and the severity of acne, especially in males.
Leads to Depression
Being constantly exposed to stressful environments and situations can cause problems like anxiety and depression. Studies confirm a relationship between stress hormone disturbances and this mental concern. To put it simply, too much stress is bad for your health.
May Cause Drug or Alcohol Abuse
Exposure to long-term stress can make one more prone to using alcohol or drugs. This is primarily because the effects of these substances can be enticing to a person suffering from depression, looking for a reprieve (albeit temporarily) from their problems. Unfortunately, many of these substances, when consumed even just once, can lead to addiction.
Stress Management
Stress oftentimes cannot be avoided, which is why it’s vital to be able to manage it. Here are a few ways that you can better manage stress.
Know Your Stressors
Identify the things that are causing you stress. Keeping a stress journal can help. Once you’ve determined your stressors, see if you can avoid them. For instance, if it’s caused by a person, try to limit the time you spend with him or her.
Accept the Things You Can’t Change
In cases where the cause of your stress cannot be avoided, accept that it’s beyond your control. Instead of mulling over the things you can’t change, focus on what you can control — like the way you react to the issue, or deciding to see the opportunities when faced with a problem.
Learn How to Say “No”
A lot of people are stressed because of their inability to refuse a person asking for a favor. Remember, your health matters. Unless it’s really necessary, learn to say “no.”
Stay Organized
A messy desk, poorly organized schedules, and other disorderly things can be stressful and prevent one from performing at his or her best. Try to organize your work and your environment to ease the strain.
Practice Gratitude
Being thankful for what you have can give you a more positive outlook. Make gratitude a habit.
Live an Active Lifestyle
Physical activities like working out can help relieve stress. Studies show that physically active individuals have a better mood compared to sedentary individuals.
Connect with People
Spending quality time with the people you care for is a great way to manage stress. It releases hormones that counteract the body’s natural “fight or flight” response, and as a result, eases stress.
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