Last year I became a member of the 90%. You might not have heard of this one, but it is the percentage of adult doctor visits caused by stress. Around 43% of adults will suffer from stress at some point in their lives. Less money coming in along with housing and children-based costs caused major problems for my family. For my grandmother, the doctor has been a regular visitor. As she’s got older, her health has worsened, her friends have passed away one by one, and she’s become more and more isolated. Stress only made things worse.
The Negative Effects of Stress
Before you can overcome stress in all its guises, you need to understand the cause and what it can do to you. Stress will affect you physically and mentally – it can lead to poor lifestyle choices and can make existing health problems worse, which only exacerbate things. In no particular order, stress can cause:
- Heart problems and heart disease
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Digestive problems
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar leading to diabetes
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Anger issues
- Skin problems including rashes and breakouts
- Sleeping issues including insomnia
- Weakened immune system
- Asthma
Relaxation and Lifestyle Changes
Let’s not let this be a downbeat story. My grandmother is still with us and she’s brighter than she’s been for a good long time. Overcoming stress is about enjoying the good things in life and having a positive outlook. She now enjoys walks, yoga, meditation, eats healthily, and yes, enjoys the hot tub we put in the garden whenever she comes to visit. It worked wonders for me too because relaxing with a bit of you-time is the cornerstone of getting over stress. To find out more, read this full guide to the negative health effects of stress.
blog written by Sally Writes
“The Negative Health Effects of Stress” written by Kristen Hicks
