Stress Articles

Medically reviewed by Julie A. Dodson, MA, LCSW

Stress can be defined as a normal response to challenging, worrisome, or threatening situations or circumstances. It can cause mental symptoms like anxiety, irritability, and anger, or physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, and insomnia. Stress can impact everyone differently, and some people tend to be more equipped to cope with it than others. While stress itself isn’t always cause for alarm, when it begins to affect daily functioning, it can become a serious concern that should generally be addressed with the help of a professional, such as an online or in-person therapist.

How Stress Impacts Our Lives

Stress is often considered a natural part of life. Every person may go through situations that are challenging and undeniably stressful. In some cases, stress can be overwhelming and cause us to shut down. We might take our feelings out on our loved ones or find that our relationships, health, career, or family lives suffer as a result. 

However, there are other times when stress can serve as a motivator. Maybe your intent is to achieve a goal at work. You want to impress your boss, and the stress you’re under pushes you to perform and do well. While stress can have negative impacts on your life and well-being, you can cope with it and even use it to your advantage by learning to manage it appropriately.

How stress affects your health

In general, our bodies are biologically wired to fight against stress. When we feel stressed out, our bodies may naturally jump into action. Your nervous system usually releases a stress hormone called cortisol. This typically triggers your mind and body to go into “fight-or-flight” mode. Your heart rate may rise, your large arteries may expand, your digestion may slow down, and you may start to sweat as your body prepares to defend you against a potential threat. 

The body’s biological response to stress is normally to fight it. It generally wants to protect you. That’s why hormones can be propelled into action and tell your body that something dangerous is happening. Your body and mind typically recover from short-term episodes of stress. However, if you’re exposed to long-term instances of stress, you’ll likely start to see a decline in your health.

Long-term stress or chronic stress

Some stressful situations are temporary. Maybe you’re moving to a new house, or you just started a new job. These can be considered short-term stressors. Other situations may cause persistent, long-term stress. When stress occurs over time, it can severely impact a person’s physical and mental well-being.

Chronic stress can lead to serious health issues, such as heart disease, heart attacks, ulcers, fertility issues, and stomach problems.

When your body is continuously releasing stress hormones, it can be put into overdrive. It usually doesn't have a chance to shut down and heal, which can negatively impact you over time. When you’re consistently stressed out, your body’s immune system can be compromised, potentially making you more prone to illness. This is why it can be essential to get treatment for chronic stress. When you seek help for stressors in your life, you may be taking care of your body and mind.

Stress and the mind-body connection

When you experience stress, it can affect both your mind and body. Maybe you’re always worrying about something bad happening to you or your family. Perhaps you’re obsessing over the possibility of getting fired from your job. These can be stressful thoughts to cope with on a regular basis. When your mind is preoccupied with worries, your body is often impacted. You might find that your muscles are tense, your back and neck begin to hurt, or you experience numbness or tingling sensations. 

Stress can affect each of us in different ways. Regardless of how it impacts you, it can be crucial to seek help for stress so you can learn to manage it. The consequences of ignoring stress are often more severe than confronting it.

Benefits of online therapy

Takeaway

Everyone may experience stress from time to time, but it can become a concern when it interferes with your daily life and functioning. Understanding the underlying causes of stress and finding ways to manage it can be vital to establish physical and mental well-being. Whether you’re managing a short-term stressful situation or coping with chronic stress, meeting with a licensed online therapist could be helpful. BetterHelp has a database of thousands of providers who can teach you how to cope with your stress in productive, healthy ways.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What are the common signs of stress?

Common signs and symptoms of stress may include aches and pains, upset stomach, difficulty sleeping, changes in mood, nail biting, problems staying focused, changes in eating habits, isolation, low sex drive, and fatigue. 

How does stress affect your body?

When stress is left untreated, it may contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, and other physical and emotional symptoms. Almost every part of the body can be disrupted by stress. 

How do I get rid of stress?

Some ways to relieve stress may include journal writing, reducing caffeine levels, exercising regularly, limiting social media and cell phone use, learning meditation, getting organized, getting adequate sleep, and taking nutritional supplements. Speaking to your healthcare provider can be useful, as they can give you tips for relieving stress in your life.

How does stress make you feel?

When overwhelmed by stress, you may experience different emotions and physical symptoms that leave you feeling uncomfortable. A person may feel sad, angry, frustrated, or anxious. Since it can affect your health, stress can be addressed by understanding how it affects you. 

Physically, stress may lead to headaches, muscle tension or pain, chest pain, fatigue, changes in your sex drive, stomach upset, and problems sleeping. Psychologically, stress can lead to anxiety, restlessness, anger or irritability, sadness, and lack of motivation or focus. 

Why am I stressing for no reason? 

Sometimes, people may not be aware of what is causing their distress. Speaking to a mental health professional could be helpful in uncovering the cause of stress.

What is a stress attack? 

A stress attack may occur when adrenaline and cortisol levels increase dramatically. Mentally, a person may experience racing thoughts and emotions, such as fear. Physically, a person might experience lightheadedness, a racing heart, feeling hot or cold, nausea, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. 

People often report sensing that they’re dying. Before doctors diagnose a stress attack, they usually look for certain signs, like sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, choking sensations, and nausea. You may refer to a stress attack as acute stress. It normally occurs when a person is overwhelmed by stress.

What are stress triggers?

Stress triggers can be defined as stimuli that lead to stress. 

How do I get rid of stress hormones?

Consider activities to help you unwind, such as engaging in a hobby, practicing self-care, and learning ways to relax. You can also get personal guidance from your healthcare provider. 

What are 10 ways to cope with stress?

The following methods may help you cope with stress:

1. Eating a balanced diet
2. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits
3. Participate in regular exercise
4. Practice ways to relax through yoga, music, a good laugh, breathing exercises, etc.
5. Spend time with people you care about, such as family and friends
6. Know your limits and say no when you need to
7. Talk about your feelings or whatever is bothering you with someone you trust
8. Go to bed earlier for more rest
9. Make time for leisure activities and things you enjoy
10. Practice self-care