The impact of prolonged stress can include both physical and mental health conditions.
When people experience stress, thefight-or-flight responsecauses the release of hormones that help prepare the body to take action.
You become both physically and mentally alert as your heart rate and breathing rate increase.
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This allows you to take action in situations that require a quick response.
Some signs of prolonged stress include:
Such symptoms may vary in intensity.
Many of these symptoms may become worse over time as the stress continues to take its toll.
Causes
There are a number of situations that can lead to prolonged stress.
Research has demonstrated thatracism has serious negative effectson both physical and mental health.
In 2020, the American Medical Association (AMA) formally identified racism as a public health threat.
Research suggests that the consequences of long-lasting stress can be serious and even devastating.
Conditions Linked to Prolonged Stress
Prolonged stress affects the entire body.
This means it can have a direct or indirect impact on several areas and systems.
Mental Health
Prolonged stress can take a serious toll on an individual’s mental health.
Gastrointestinal System
Stress can also cause stomach and digestion problems.
Musculoskeletal System
When you feel stressed, you’ve probably noticed that your muscles tense up.
With prolonged stress, this muscle tension lasts for a long period of time.
Respiratory System
Prolonged stress can also interfere with the body’s respiratory processes.
Psychological stress may make breathing more difficult, leading to rapid breathing and shortness of breath.
Establishingeffective stress management practicesis important for maintaining good physical and mental health.
Some strategies that might help are listed below.
Of course, this may not always be possible.
In other cases, it might involve making a major change in your life.
Of course, it is important to remember that big changes can also be a source of prolonged stress.
This might mean saying no to some obligations,setting boundarieswith people, or delegating some responsibilities to others.
Some signs that you better establish some limits:
Learning how to say no isnt always easy.
However, finding ways to limit your obligations can help significantly when it comes to coping with prolonged stress.
If you feel overwhelmed by your stress, ask for help.
Delegating some responsibilities while cutting out some non-essential tasks may also beneficial.
You may find that over time, engaging in physical activity actually helps you better cope with your stress.
Research has found thatsocial supportis critical for both physical and mental health.
For example, one study found that social support helped reduce the effects of stress on symptoms of depression.
Finding support doesn’t mean it’s crucial that you have an enormous data pipe.
This might involve working on developing newcoping strategiesor finding new ways to deal with difficult people.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to help with some of the immediate symptoms of stress.
This might include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, antacids, or sleeping medications.
They may also recommend psychotherapy or lifestyle modifications that will help you cope with stress in the long-term.
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