Our bodies have ways of telling us something is going on with us. When we are tired, we may yawn a lot. When we are hungry, our tummies growl. In the same way, our bodies do things that tell us we may be under a bit too much stress. Stress increases our levels of cortisol. Cortisol is our body's main stress hormone. It works with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation, and fear. When you need a quick response to something, it tells your body to get moving. But ongoing stress will cause your body to overload the cortisol and can cause some serious issues.
Here are a few:
Aches and Pains - Higher levels of cortisol in our bodies can cause aches and pains, in our back, joints and all over. You can have headaches, pain in your mouth (maybe from clenching your jaw or an increase in blood pressure) and terrible menstrual cramps.
Other Body Symptoms -Your heart rate may increase so that you feel palpitations, you may crave sweets or other foods and your weight can change because of those cravings (or lack of appetite). Even our allergies may get worse.
Skin Changes - Acne can increase. Stress can bring about other skin issues you may not know you have like psoriasis or eczema. So, if you are itchier than normal, you might be under more stress than you think!
Brain Changes - Stress can affect not only all the visible signs on your body, but some mental signs in your body, as well. Strange dreams, depression and moodiness can happen. Even just feeling tired all the time could be a sign you are under too much stress.
To combat any (an all) of these symptoms, start by getting good rest and exercise. Also, take care of your teeth, skin and body to help them combat any extra stress you may be under. If you continue to have changes in your body, mind and overall mood, talk to a doctor to see what else you can do to decrease your stress and help your symptoms. Don't let it go on too long. We only have one body to live our lives in, and it needs to last!
This blog was inspired by this article.
