Stress is a part of life, but chronic stress can cause long-term health problems. If you’re suffering from frequent and overwhelming stress, help is available. The team at Advanced Mental Health Care, with locations throughout the Greater Palm Beach, Florida, area, are dedicated to providing you with the coping mechanisms you need to deal with stress whenever it arises. Call or make an appointment online today.
Stress is an evolutionary response that helps your body react to potentially harmful situations. When you feel threatened, a chemical reaction in your body causes a physical action intended to prevent injury.
This response, known as “fight or flight,” causes your heart rate to increase, your breath to quicken, your muscles to tighten, and your blood pressure to rise. This prepares you to protect yourself.
Although our bodies are designed to handle some stress, chronic stress can cause serious health problems.
The symptoms of stress fall into three different categories: emotional, cognitive, and physical.
If you’re experiencing the emotional symptoms of stress, you may become easily agitated, feel overwhelmed, or have difficulty relaxing. People with chronic stress often feel bad about themselves and avoid others.
The cognitive symptoms of stress include worrying, racing thoughts, inability to focus, and poor judgment. Those who have cognitive symptoms of stress are often pessimistic, disorganized, and forgetful.
Physical symptoms of stress include:
If you’re stressed often, it’s common to experience chest pain and rapid heartbeats. You may also experience dry mouth, nervousness, shaking, and a clenched jaw.
People with chronic stress are at risk of developing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. They are also more likely to be obese, develop eating disorders, and experience cardiovascular disease. Long-term stress can also lead to:
If you’re experiencing long-term stress, make an appointment with Advanced Mental Health Care today. They can provide you with the coping mechanisms you need to deal with stress in your everyday life.
