We all know and understand stress and can relate to the negative effects it has on our body. Despite knowing this, it is often so difficult to break out of the routine stress we encounter. This was an area I pinpointed in myself that I needed to remedy and fast about a year or so ago when I was trying to juggle more than I could handle.
One of the things that helped me was truly understanding what it was doing to my body. I'm here trying to be the best version of myself while in reality I am slowing killing myself because I can't handle life some days. ☠️
Stress brings on a "fight or flight" mode in our systems. This includes
➡️drop in digestion
➡️putting a hold on growth
➡️shutting down the immune system
➡️turning up the volume on blood pressure
➡️tense muscles
AND those things are just in that heat of the moment. Long term, constant stress takes even more of a toll on our bodies.
🤯Constant tenseness in our muscles leads to headaches and migraines. Additionally, it can lead to an influx of chronic pain.
😯Blood sugar is effected because when stressed, our bodies pump more sugar into our blood stream so we have the energy to flee. This can lead to diabetes long term as well as other health issues.
❤️Short term stress causes the heart to beat harder and faster, which over time, can lead to hypertension, heart attack and stroke. Chronic stress can also lead to inflammation throughout our body- including the circulatory system- which can lead to heart attacks, but also negatively impact cholesterol levels.
😪In your stomach the 'butterflies' you feel when stressed can actually cause an ulcer over time.
👫The reproductive system is also impacted by stress. In men, certain parts become very unhappy when stressed. For girls, the cycle can be delayed and even shut down, making PMS worse.
🧠Your brain is effected too! We struggle to make new memories, learn new things, and or ability to remember daily tasks weakens.
🤯When we are chronically stressed out, our body releases Cortisol, a stress hormone, and when it hangs around too long, it can actually kill brain cells, shrink the size of the brain, influence emotional disorders and impair learning long term.
Up Next: Ways to combat stress.
