Effects Of Chronic Stress On The Body

Do you ever feel like your body is going through a transformation? You know, as if your skin, muscles, and tendons are being reworked by something new each day. You start to feel more refreshed and energized. In other words: Your stress level rises. Not everyone experiences this transformation in the same way, but chronic stress affects all aspects of our lives. And it can have a profound effect on our health. According to research, repeated chronic stress exposure results in changes in the structure of brain tissue — for example, an increase in brain density known as shrinkage — which can have negative implications for cognitive performance and brain health. The good news is that these effects do not last long-term. Instead, we see a gradual return to baseline levels within days or weeks. As a result, chronic stress exposure is best managed over time rather than immediately after it has begun.

What Is Chronic Stress?

Chronic stress is the experience of dealing with high levels of stress for prolonged periods of time. It is a common condition in organizations with high levels of employee turnover or personnel turnover. In its modern context, chronic stress refers to the condition of having high levels of stress on a daily or weekly basis. It is often associated with childhood trauma, including physical or sexual abuse. It can also occur in aging people because of genetics. What Is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Definition of Chronic Stress? In order to diagnosis and manage chronic stress, your doctor will likely use the Chronic Stress Inventory (CDI) as part of your physical health examination. This tool ranks stress positions on a scale from zero (no stress) to 10 (most stress).

How Does Chronic Stress Affect The Body?

Chronic stress wreaks havoc on our bodies, mind, and minds. It causes our digestive system to constrict, our brains to lie still, and our immune systems to become less efficient. It robs us of our feeling of balance. These changes come with the context of a high level of overwork, stress, and normal stress levels. In other words, we experience chronic stress in our bodies as a kind of “overload.”

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Stress?

Here are five common symptoms of chronic stress: Focus Dwanna: You are so focused you may lose track of time. You generally have a short attention span and may only remember a few things at a time. Flexibility Danna: In your Flexibility position, you are naturally agile and ready for anything. You have a playful, mischievous nature that you use to charm and win people over. Emotional Lability Danna: Once again, you are highly emotional and sensitive. Your emotions are Highly Bowl-Like and you are easily hurt. Impostor Syndrome Danna: You may try to appear confident and happy in the public eye by acting like you have it all made up for you. But when people actually know you, you are Lateral Stressvane.

The Dos and Don’t of Chronic Stress Exercises

The first thing to avoid is overloading your body with stress by overdoing it. Try to stay under control of a moderate to high amounts of stress per day. A low stress day might involve walking, taking a short walk, or even a short drive. A high stress day might be very active (exercising, training, doing crafts, etc.) as well as social distancing, meditation, and even just being alone for a while.

Conclusion

Chronic stress can have a variety of negative effects on your health. The good news is that these effects do not last long-term. Instead, we see a gradual return to baseline levels within days or weeks. As a result, chronic stress exposure is best managed over time rather than immediately after it has begun.