In today’s era, every person is suffering from mental stress in some form, and this stress is also necessary for our body. Having stress in small amounts is beneficial for our body. If there is no stress, our body will not function properly. But when stress becomes continuous, meaning your body remains in stress constantly and does not return to its normal state, then you face problems.
Mental stress is usually caused by external factors. Some people are stressed about domestic issues, and some have long-standing issues at work and thus suffer mental stress.
If you are suffering from chronic stress, what are the effects on your body, how do you reduce this stress, and how can you feel better?
In this article, you will learn what the effects on the body are, how you might reduce this stress, and how you could feel better.
How stress affects your brain:
There is a small pathway in your brain known as the Amygdala,” which activates during fights and violence. Amygdala — regulates all emotions, including anger, hatred, love, etc. This causes the amygdala to grow in size and its activity to increase, meaning your emotions are much more hyperactive. You start getting angry over small things and become more emotional. This is the effect of stress.
On the other hand, there is another part of the brain called the Hippocampus, and it creates your memory. The new things you learn happen because of the hippocampus. Damage to the hippocampus means that you cannot create new memories. As a result, when we are stressed, the hippocampus begins to shrink and lose volume, and memory is impaired.
Another part of the brain is the Prefrontal Cortex. The Prefrontal Cortex is one of the areas that separate humans from other animals, and if removed, there is little difference between humans and animals. Chronic Stress negatively affects our decisions. Along with this, fatigue also starts in the body, and you feel tired all the time.
This is because of a hormone known as Cortisol. The amount of cortisol you produce is usually high in the morning, after you wake up, and declines from there. However, chronic stress regularizes levels of cortisol, contributing to weight gain, increased fatigue, mood changes, and interrupted sleep.
How this Stress can be Reduced:
First of all, it is important to identify whether you have stress or not. Many people are under stress, but they do not realize it. You will recognize stress when your memory starts to weaken, you feel fatigued, you lose interest in work, you remain in constant struggle, you feel a burden on your mind, and your decisions are not turning out right. All these could be signs of stress.
First, it is necessary to identify the sources of pressure, whether it is excessive work or domestic issues. When you find its source, you will try to fix it, and as a result, all other symptoms will also decrease. If you cannot resolve those issues immediately or they will take time, you can adopt some other methods that will cause minimal harm to your body and gradually reduce the pressure.
Different Methods to Reduce Stress:
Stress Circuit Breakers: Try out what some folks call “stress circuit breakers”—little breaks that step in when constant pressure builds up in your head and body. For instance, spending about five to ten minutes just taking deep breaths can make a real difference; usually, you notice your thoughts clearing up and the tension easing off. It’s a small, simple act that interrupts the relentless cycle of stress, letting you hit a sort of reset button, even if just momentarily.
Mindfulness: Mindfulness means clearing your mind of all racing thoughts and paying attention to one thing. Depending upon the need of the user, there are many mindfulness apps present on the app store that train you and guide you to what to focus on.
Finishing Sleep: Sleep is very important for your body. It indicates that your sleep is incomplete, so when you wake up, you feel tired. The body also continues to repair during our sleep, and our memory is consolidated.
Workout: It’s one of the most important things for your body. Along with body fat, mood boosting, Stress decreasing, and many more positive changes take place when we exercise.
Diet: Diet is an important factor. Your physical health can also be affected if you do not have a good diet. Deficiencies in some vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can compound the effect of stress on your body.
NOTE:
If you take all these steps and still cannot cope with the pressure, always consult a Psychologist or doctor.
