Stress, which is a form of emotional pressure can lead to lots of negative effects. Which affects both the mood, behavior, and health of an individual.
We will discuss all the effects of stress, and also the ways to either manage or prevent it.
Events that can cause stress
There are lots of situations that can lead to stress. However, most of these events are inevitable, while some situations can be avoided. Below is the list of the topmost stressful events.
Loss of a loved one: The demise of a loved one can lead to stress and may develop into mental disorders if not properly managed.
Major illness or injury: When a person is suffering from a major illness or when critically injured, he or she may have stress, and may develop its behavioral symptoms.
Divorce: When a marriage breaks, it leaves both partners, including their children depressed. This can be due to improperly managed stress.
Loss of job: Loss of job may leave an individual shattered and hopeless, thereby leading to stress. And if not properly managed, can lead to its complications.
Lack of sleep: when a person does not sleep for the required time, of 7-9hrs per day for an adult.he/she may be stressed out.
Doing more work than you should: overworking is different from being hardworking. You are required to rest for some time while doing strenuous work.
Malnutrition: When the body does not have enough food to energize it, it becomes worn out, can cause stress to an individual.
Signs and symptoms of stress
Knowing the signs and symptoms of stress will help you know when you are stressed and should manage it well before it's complications arise.
Lack of focus: A person who is stressed cannot easily focus. This is due to lots of racing thoughts.
Forgetfulness: This too can arise as a result of racing thoughts.
Body aches: Stress due to strenuous activities can cause.
Constant worrying: This can be caused by most of the inevitable events that lead to stress.
A pessimistic mindset: A person who is stressed most often sees the negative side of life. And may also expect negative things to happen.
Lack of energy: This is one of the most common signs of stress.
Increase in heartbeats: Stress usually leads to rapid heartbeats, and may also cause chest pain.
Lack of sexual desire: people who are stressed are not usually sexually stimulated and so do not desire sexual intercourse. They are sometimes not able to perform it.
Headache: A stressed person often complains of headaches. This may be due to strenuous activities, lack of sleep, or any other event leading to stress.
Insomnia: stress can lead to the inability to sleep experienced by most patients.
Frequent urination and infections: most persons who encounter the events of stress try taking alcohol to ease their problems. This can cause frequent urination, which in turn can lead to infections.
Stomach upset: stressed persons are likely to have stomach disorders.
Effects of stress on mood
Stress most times affects the mood of persons than it affects other aspects. The effects of stress on the mood of a person include the following.
Anxiety: this is the unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension, and obsession about an uncertain event. This situation is most times caused by stress.
Restlessness: most people who are stressed are not easily at rest.
Irritability: this is a state of continuous movement, and is seen in most stressed individuals.
Lack of motivation: most stressed persons do not see the need to forge ahead. They only see negativity in things.
An overwhelming feeling.
Anger: Stressed People are always angry, this is because little things get them annoyed.
Depression: this is a psychiatry state of mind in which a person has a long term lack of enjoyment and inability to visualize a happy future. Stress can lead to this disorder.
Sadness: people who are stressed are often sorrowful.
Effects of stress on behavior
People who have been negatively affected emotionally by stress are likely to have negative behavioral changes. Examples If these behavioral changes include.
Inappropriate feeding habits: stressed people are likely to either overeat or undereat.
Alcohol misuse: this is done by these people to forget their problems.
Angry outbursts: just as with their moods, stressed persons easily burst out angrily.
Social withdrawal: stressed people don't always want to associate with other people. They usually withdraw from people.
Tobacco use: this is one of the most dangerous behavioral changes of most stressed people.
Health complications of stress.
Behavioral changes such as alcohol misuse and tobacco use can cause health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
High blood pressure
This is a condition in which pressure exalted by blood against the artery wall is high. High blood pressure can either be mild, moderate, or severe.
The normal blood pressure is 120/80. That is, the systolic pressure is 120 while the diastolic pressure is 80.
Mild high blood pressure ranges from >120/80 to 140/90
Moderate high blood pressure ranges from >140/90 to 170/110.
Severe high blood pressure is blood pressure > 170/110.
An increase in blood pressure can be caused by stress. And this can also lead to other health complications, such as heart issues and stroke.
Heart diseases
These abnormal heart conditions are caused by either structural problems, diseased blood vessels, or blood clots.
Examples of abnormal heart conditions include:
Coronary heart disease: the coronary blood vessel is a major vessel of the heart. Damage to this vessel leads to coronary heart disease, which is a major heart issue.
Cardiac arrest: this is a sudden stop of heart functions, breathing, and loss of consciousness. This can lead to death unless properly treated.
Obesity
This is a condition caused by the intake of more calories than the ones that are burnt by either exercise or normal day to day activities. It results in excess body fat.
This excessive body fat can lead to several diseases, such as several heart problems.
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a disease that results in an abnormal increase in blood sugar levels.
It is divided into two;
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or type 1 diabetes mellitus: This type of diabetes mellitus is caused by the inability of the pancreas to enough insulin, suitable to regulate normal blood sugar.
Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes mellitus: this is a condition in which the body processes glucose sugar abnormally. This can be due to hereditary factors and other conditions.
How to efficiently manage stress
Active ways to manage stress are very efficient and necessary. However, inactive ways such as watching movies may seem relaxing, but will likely not manage it. These active ways include:
Exercise: regular physical activities especially exercise is a very important step to take to combat stress.
Spend time with family and friends: Spending time with the people you love is encouraged in managing stress.
Reduce your caffeine intake: caffeine though not harmful to the body when adequately taken, is capable of increasing alertness. This is not encouraged for a person who is stressed.
Laugh: spend time with people who make you laugh. Also, do things you find humor in. This can make you happy.
Write it down: penning down emotions reduces the effect on you.
Use the right scents: scents like lavender, rose, vetiver, bergamot, neroli, roman chamomile, frankincense, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, and geranium are used to reduce and manage stress. This process of using scents to improve mood is called aromatherapy.
Eat healthy food: eating right is paramount in stress management. However, some foods are very important to combat stress. They include; banana, avocado, tea, carrot, grain, etc.
Avoid tobacco use: tobacco use can worsen the effects of stress and should be completely avoided
Conclusion
Stress has lots of negative effects and should be properly managed or prevented if the causes are unavoidable.
Stressed people should also seek professional help if they feel the need to. Your mental health is very important and should be properly cared for.
Efforts should also be made by friends and family to help a stressed loved one.
Great work
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