Physical Effects of Stress
Life Coaching999
Modern living is confusing for the body, not to mention the brain. In a joint effort to ensure your survival, any stressful situation floods your system with adrenaline and cortisone. Which is really good if you intend to physically work off the effects they have on your body - like running away or fighting an adversary. Proteins are mobilised from your thymus and lymph glands to form sugar for more energy, so your blood sugar level soars in a matter of minutes. But because we seldom resort to any physical activity to work off stress, all that sugar gets stored in your liver, where converted into fat, it can be released again as sugar. So you put on weight or become obese (this is only one factor contributing to weight gain). Abnormal amounts of salt is retained, so your blood pressure goes up. Minerals, especially calcium, are taken from your bones, and after every instance of feeling stressed, your body tries to repair the damage caused (you might say 'one step forward and two steps back'). If you eat a balanced nutritious diet, exercise regularly, practise stress management techniques and have a good life/work balance you are less likely to suffer any long-term affects of stress. BUT, if you do suffer from stress, chances are that at least one of those elements are lacking in your life. What happens then...
Your thymus and lymph glands get depleted of proteins and shrivel up so then protein has to be found elsewhere in your body. It's primarily taken from your kidneys, liver and stomach wall. You could say that stress eats you from the inside (as is the case of ulcerative colitis). As an example, when you have a day of continuous stress, to replace the protein lost, you'd need to drink 9 pints of milk. Then you'd need the normal amount of protein that your body uses for every day function and maintenance.
I'd like to highlight the fact that it's not only emotional stress that affects your body. Here is the start of the downward spiral: A cold or other physical illness is also stressful for the body and emotional stress makes you more vulnerable to colds... Even things like an x-ray damages (stresses) your body, and there is an increased need for proteins, linoleic acid, minerals and vitamins. Similarly, drugs, whether prescribed or recreational, damages the body. You may be interested in this little fact: you probably know that when you smoke, your brain releases endorphins, which is why smoking seems to reduce stress. But endorphins are natural pain killers, and that is why they are released when you smoke, to lessen the pain you would otherwise experience from the smoke as you inhale. Remember the first time you smoked? The burning sensation you felt? Without the endorphins, you'd still feel the same now as then.
Using the 'One step forward and two steps back' analogy, sooner or later your body reaches a stage of exhaustion, it has no more reserves and more serious illness occurs. By the time you have reached this level of stress, you are less likely to recognise that you are, in fact, dangerously stressed. Others around you may mention it to you and it would be advisable to pay attention.
Did all this information make for gloomy reading? Then read on for a happy ending!
Firstly, take a moment to think about the enormous capacity your body has for healing itself. Then, take a decision to look after it better. Moving out of your comfort zone always feels strange at first, until the new habit becomes the comfort zone. Make changes in small steps, that way you're more likely to stay the course.
In its early stages, when you are more aware of it, stress is much easier to manage and take control of, so don't put on a stiff upper lip and think that you are less of a man or woman for admitting to problems with coping. It's so easy to think 'I'll manage' but you now know that even if your mind may think so, your body knows different. Stress management is investment in health.
See your GP to rule out any other physical problem and then start thinking about how you'd like your life to be and remember that action speaks louder than words.
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