Signs You're Under Too Much Stress
By Sara Butler
Stress is unavoidable, but being under too much stress without a healthy outlet can damage your health and wellness. In fact, stress can have physical side effects. If you're under too much stress, then your body is likely trying to let you know it through some subtle and even surprising signs. Here's what you need to be on the lookout for.
You Forget Things
If you feel as if you're always in a brain fog or you're having trouble remembering things, then it may be due to stress.
Anxiety and stress can impact your ability to pay attention and can also hinder your ability to make new memories and retrieve old ones. Studies have found that cortisol, the stress hormone, impairs memory and keeps your brain from remembering things.
Skin Problems
If you're struggling with skin issues such as hives, rash, cold sores, or acne, then it might be because of the stress you're under.
Stress causes your body to release cortisol as well as epinephrine. These hormones can activate glands in the skin to produce oil, which can lead to breakouts and other skin conditions. Plus, during stressful times it's easy to veer away from self-care such as getting enough sleep or skipping a skincare routine. This can make skin issues even worse.
Tension in the Muscles
Tight muscles are another side effect of stress. Your body deals with stress by going into what is called the fight or flight mode. This reaction has been a part of human evolution, meant to help keep humans alive in the wild. It causes a release of hormones that ready the muscles to respond to a threat, such as outrunning a woolly mammoth. Of course, the stress your under doesn't involve a woolly mammoth, so you're simply sitting around with tight muscles ready to react to a threat that never comes. This can result in muscle pain and other issues, such as tension headaches.
Reduce Your Stress
There are some simple ways to deal with stress and help to keep it from having a physical impact on your health. Some things you can do to help you cope include:
- Deep breathing exercises
- Meditation
- Exercise
If you find you're having difficulty dealing with stress in your life, then the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic are here to help.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Shiloh, Ill.