Chronic Stress

Chronic Stress

When you have chronic stress, you have an ongoing state of physiological stimulation. You are in a chronic state of fight or flight, neither of which you are able to do. Stress is bad enough when you have to deal with it on a daily basis. Even worse is when stress becomes so integrated with your life, it transforms into chronic state of stress.

In earlier times, fight or flight served us well, but now it can actually be detrimental to our bodies. There are very few things we can actually fight or flee from – a job, family problems, and other psychological stressors. When you cannot turn off the stress response in your mind, you are constantly allowing your body to create hormones and other reactions that are meant to aid in fight or flight, such as adrenaline. When there is nothing for you to actively do, you are simply stuck in that mode, which can be exhausting, keeping your blood pressure elevated and your heart rate faster than it should be.

Too much chronic stress can lead to damaging your body, such as too much tension in muscles, the breakdown of cells, and more importantly, hindering your immune system. With too many mental and physical problems brought on by stress responses, you can actually become ill. Illness can add further stress upon your already chronic state, so it is imperative that you seek ways to reduce or remove the stress or certain stressors from your life. Don’t just sit there and worry about your stress; be proactive about protecting yourself from it. There are a number of ways you can save yourself from chronic stress; these can be as small as attempting aromatherapy or yoga, or they can be as large as changing jobs or going on vacation. Remember, your health is at stake, so do what must be done to relieve your stressors