Effects of Stress

Stress is one of the causes of a variety of diseases and disorders in the world today. People suffer from stress due to various reasons like job, career, illness, death, relationships, finances, family, etc. Workaholics are more prone to suffer from it. A majority of people tend to ignore stress and rely heavily on medications to get rid of the signs and symptoms. However, they are unaware of the long-term and long-lasting outcomes of stress. Let us take a look.

Physical Effects

A person suffering from stress faces several disorders of the body. This is because he tends to ignore his health, does not have a proper diet, does not exercise regularly and the constant anxiety and worrying has a negative effect on his body. Physical effects of stress include disorders of the stomach, the heart, abnormal functioning of the digestive as well as the reproductive system. If a person already suffers from any chronic condition, allergy, skin disease; stress tends to aggravate it.

• Palpitation, faster heart rate
• Pain in chest, shoulder, neck, back
• Sweating, cold and clammy skin
• Breathlessness, difficulty in breathing
• Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
• Pain and discomfort in abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Peptic ulcer
• Diarrhea, loose stools, constipation
• Increase of blood sugar level
• Sleep disorders, insomnia
• Reduced sex drive
• Increase in blood pressure, hypertension
• Heart diseases, heart attack

Psychological Effects

Stress also affects a person thinking capacity, his metal and emotional being. Anxiety, difficulty in thinking, analysis and depression are the most common psychological as well as physical signs of stress.

• Mood swings
• Anxiety disorders
• Difficulty in concentration
• Pessimism
• Constant worrying
• Irritability, quick rise of temper
• Agitation
• Memory disturbances, memory loss
• Feeling of loneliness, isolation
• Depression
• Nervousness
• Racing thoughts

Apart from these, obsessive or extreme behavior like overeating or complete lack of appetite, isolation or extreme agitation, difficulty in conceiving, sexual dysfunction, drug, alcohol abuse, addiction to cigarette and gambling, etc. are some of the consequences of stress in human beings.

There are several techniques that help in reducing stress. Yoga, meditation, Vipassana, etc. are some of the well-known and most effective techniques. On the other hand, undertaking a hobby everyday, spending time with loved ones or friends, etc. are also some of the easy yet useful ways of getting rid of stress. Lastly, it should be noted that taking any kind of antidepressant or other drugs and medications will definitely take a toll on one's health and hence, people are advised against it.

Although it is true that there is no escape from stress in the modern-day world, one should surely look for ways to reduce it and prevent it from being life-threatening. Take care!