Is stress keeping you awake at night?
March 29 2021 | News
Stress is a feeling known to many. It can keep you awake at night, make you irritable and have physical effects!
But will stress have long-lasting effects on your wellbeing?
Whilst the occasional bit of stress can sometimes be a good push to get through intense situations, such as completing a deadline on time or achieving your personal best at the gym, it is all too common that our stress levels can take a negative toll on both our emotional and physical wellbeing.
How can stress affect your health?
Unfortunately, feelings of stress can have detrimental effects on both your emotional and physical wellbeing.
Emotional Effects
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability and Frustration
- Restlessness
- Trouble falling and staying asleep
- Struggling with concentration
Physical Effects
- Headaches
- Heartburn (due to an increase in the production of stomach acid)
- A weakened immune system
- High blood pressure
- Stomach ache
- Low sex drive
- Missed periods
Causes of Stress
The exact cause of stress varies from person to person based on different social, economic and genetic factors, however, there are some situations that tend to be considered more stressful than others such as your children refusing to go to bed, your computer repeatedly breaking down in the middle of writing a report or a family member relying on you for everything.
Whilst stress is predominantly a direct result of external influences, it can also be influenced by your own behaviours such as staying up late at night resulting in a lack of sleep, eating foods with little to no nutritional value, and spending too much time obsessing over the social media version of yourself.
Techniques to help reduce your stress levels
If your stress levels persist over a period of time, it can cause you to feel as though you are permanently in a state of fight or flight, causing you to feel overwhelmed and as though you cannot cope.
There are a number of actions you can take to reduce the stressful factors that cause you to feel overwhelmed such as; exercising to increase the amount of endorphins released in your body, writing clear and concise lists of what you need to do each day, taking time out of a stressful situation to clear your mind, talking it out with a trusted friend or family member, or even meditation!
But if you feel that stress, and its impact, is severely affecting your life please do talk to a medical professional so that they can work with you to reduce its impact. You can book a private GP consultation with our experienced GPs here.