Everyone, no matter how happy they are with their life, experiences stress at one time or another. The danger of stress is to those who live with chronic stress.
Stress can come from many different places. Long-term stress could be due to poor health, a toxic relationship or a demanding job. Continued stress can have a devastating effect on a person.
Here are 5 consequences of long-term stress:
1. Heart Problems
Someone who experiences stress daily can develop problems with their heart. Heart disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms can all be a product of too much daily stress.
Practicing heart health, such as eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep and limiting stress can combat the effects of stress on one’s heart.
2. Gastrointestinal Issues
This could include GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease), Ulcerative colitis, irritable colon, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and gastritis are a few of the irritation of the intestines that come from chronic stress.
Eating right is the key to combating gastrointestinal problems. Exercise can also be beneficial to help control these unpleasant bathroom issues.
3. Sexual Dysfunction
This can be a problem for both men and women. When stress becomes too much, most individuals do not want to engage in sex. Sexual desire will decrease in a person that is under a lot of stress.
Other sexual issues such as impotence can become a problem in couples trying to conceive. Not all sexual issues are related to stress, and therefore you and your partner may want to seek medical advice from a physician.
Although it is not easy, reducing stress can be a major cure for sexual dysfunction. Taking time away from the daily pressures of work and family can do wonders for a person’s mood.
4. Mental Health
Long-term stress can have a major impact on someone’s mental health. Depression, personality disorders, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors can become normal for a person experiencing too much stress in their lives.
Before self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, seek the help of a therapist or counselor. Talk therapy is often a good way to examine what stress is and how to combat it. You may need medication, but changing your lifestyle and taking on the stresses is going to be the best way to feel better.
5. Skin and Hair Problems
Someone who suffers from chronic stress can have many issues with their skin and hair. Acne, eczema, psoriasis and dry or oily skin are a few of the issues that come to the surface when someone is experiencing too much stress.
Permanent hair loss, in both men and women, is another issue that becomes a way of life if you have too much stress. Besides avoiding the stress, eating right and exercising can help to take care of your skin and hair.
You are the only one who can determine how much stress is enough for you. You can seek help from a therapist or counselor, but ultimately, changing what is stressful in your life is going to be up to you.
