We all have stress in our lives. For many people, stress is apart of the everyday routine – dealing with the day-to-day demands of work, school, friends and families, and money. Stress is personal. We all deal with things differently. What is stressful for one person may not be for another. Stress by itself is not a bad thing. Our bodies are made to be able to handle stress and react to it in certain ways. When you are driving and a car stops suddenly in front of you, your body naturally reacts quickly and then recovers once the stress is gone. When stress becomes part of your everyday life and it starts to feel overwhelming, it can sometimes become “distress.” Dealing with distress day after day can take its toll on your body and can affect your health in some serious ways.
The Body’s Response to Distress:
- Can weaken your immune system – making it easier for you to get sick and harder for you to fight off colds and other infections
- May increase your blood pressure
- May worsen the symptoms of chronic conditions such as asthma and arthritis
- Can create problems with digestion
To find out if ongoing stress is a problem for your body, ask yourself:
How do I usually feel?
- Depressed
- Frustrated
- Bored
- Hopeless
- Resentful
- Defensive
- Irritated
- Not enthusiastic
Do I often have these symptoms?
- Headaches
- Having to use the bathroom frequently
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Tension or pain in the neck or back
- Upset stomach
How do I usually act?
- Sleep too much or have trouble sleeping
- Eat more or am not hungry all the time
- Have trouble concentrating
- Want to be left alone
What kind of thoughts do I usually have?
- Negative
- I focus on the things that go wrong in my life
If you answered “yes” to some of these questions, these signs and symptoms could be your body’s response to the distress in your life. Recognizing these signs of stress in your body is the first step toward making changes that might improve your overall well-being. Talk with your doctor about how the stress in your every-day life may be affecting your health. You can also work on finding things that relax you and are good for your health such as taking walks, talking to a good friend, or taking some deep, calming breaths. Adding in some relaxation time each day can help you work through some of the stress you may be feeling and begin to improve your health!
Other resources for learning about stress management:
- To access this program, log on to UPMC Health Plan’ “MyHealth OnLine” and select “Condition Centers” from the menu to access WebMD. Once inside, select “Stress” from the "Condition Centers" menu.
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