What you need to know about chronic stress

Chronic stress is a serious and debilitating condition - here's what you need to know.

Chronic stress is a serious and debilitating condition - here's what you need to know.

Stress can come from many places and present itself in complex ways. A single episode of anxiety, anger or fear can be difficult in and of itself. But over time, these negative feelings are quite detrimental. Finding ways to identify and mitigate chronic stress is essential for maintaining a happy mind and body. 

Addressing the issue means being mindful about the things in life that cause us worry or tension. It also means being honest and proactive about making positive changes. Here's a bit more on the risks of chronic stress and ideas for making a meaningful impact:

What are the health risks of chronic stress?
As the Mayo Clinic reported, there are physical symptoms associated with stress. Hormone levels, blood pressure and heart rate can all be negatively affected by negative feelings, and usually, your body returns to normal when anxiety or anger subside.

"Frequent stress can cause long-term disruptions to daily health."

Unfortunately, prolonged or frequent stress can cause long-term disruptions to daily health. Your emotional and physiological well-being can become compromised.

Symptoms of stress can include depression, headaches, sleep problems, impaired memory and cognition. Likewise, individuals living with chronic stress may suffer from weight loss or diminished cardiovascular health. Talk to a doctor if you believe chronic stress is causing or exacerbating any health problems.

Mitigating stress
Statistic Brain reported that the most common sources of stress include job pressure, financial woes, relationship problems and even too much screen time. Sleep deprivation and nutrition were also found to be key stressors. Spend a week or two logging the things in daily life that bring about negative feelings. Use this data to identify areas that can be improved and things that should be avoided.

In that time, the American Psychological Association suggested taking proactive steps that make your mind and body feel better. This includes prioritizing a consistent sleep schedule, reducing caffeine intake and other positive changes to your daily routine. Exercise can also be a way to improve your mental standing and promote hormonal balance. An IMAK Ergo Stress ball may also be useful for working through bouts of anger or anxiety in the moment while at work or school.

Overall, the best approach to chronic stress is to select small changes you can make in daily life rather than to feel overwhelmed by the negative feelings in the first place. Modern life is full of stressful experiences, and this is a common, normal problem to have. Maintain a positive attitude and a positive outlook for future progress.