Stress
A disease of the modern era and a cause of many illnesses is stress, especially when it becomes chronic. Although everyone knows that stress brings with it symptoms that significantly threaten our health, we still fail to realize the seriousness and ubiquity of this trigger for many diseases. To take appropriate measures against stress, it is necessary to first understand more about this complex medical phenomenon, which directly affects our quality of life.
Elevated TSH and Stress
If you have problems with your thyroid, it is very much related to stress. In fact, thyroid hormones are linked to the stress system in our body. Many autoimmune diseases are associated with stress, such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Research shows that if you are under stress, proper thyroid function becomes impossible. However, this is a two-way street, meaning that thyroid problems make us more vulnerable to stressors. According to the same research, if you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, you are more susceptible to mental or physical stress, and thyroid hormone levels (high or low) affect how you respond to stressors.
Simply put, stress can worsen thyroid problems, but thyroid issues can also cause additional stress.
Stress – Symptoms
In medicine, stress is defined as a natural phenomenon that occurs whenever our body attempts to adapt to a newly arisen situation. It is therefore inevitable, and you would be surprised at how many ways it can manifest. Here are some of the signs of stress:
Now, let’s take a look at where stress actually originates.
Sources of Stress
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Excessive worry – A trigger often resulting from overprotective or anxious parenting. This behavior model is carried into adulthood, leading to constant worry about everything, imagining worst-case scenarios.
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Lack of clear goals – When you don't feel a sense of purpose, you may feel hopeless. This is why it’s important to set priorities and have a clear direction.
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Not finishing things – Leaving things unfinished can cause great worry. This manifests as procrastination, and the sense that something unfinished is looming over you can lead to panic attacks, insomnia, and more.
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Fear of failure – This paralyzes us even before we begin. It stems from excessive worry about failure, making ourselves our biggest obstacle.
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Fear of rejection – Rooted in childhood and the conditioning of love by parents. People with this fear need validation from others because they believe that’s the only way they truly matter.
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Denial – This occurs when you can’t face failure in a certain aspect of life. You put on rose-colored glasses and pretend the problem doesn’t exist, even though it’s weighing on you and manifests as depression, anxiety, and anger outbursts.
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Outbursts of anger – Very common in people under stress, and anger is destructive as it causes numerous conditions and illnesses, ruining every area of an individual's life.
Consequences of Stress
Stress can manifest in various ways, so it’s important to recognize it in time because this modern disease can lead to serious illnesses. In the following lines, you can read about the consequences of chronic stress, which you might not even realize are caused by it.
Chest Pain from Stress
This is a sharp pain that comes suddenly but passes quickly. It is most likely caused by muscle tension in the chest wall. This happens because when the body is under stress, it releases large amounts of stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline. These are released to respond to a threat, whether real or imagined, preparing us to face it or to run away.
Stomach Pain from Stress
This pain can vary depending on the duration of stress:
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Short-term – Causes loss of appetite and slowed digestion.
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Long-term – Causes gastrointestinal issues like constipation, diarrhea, and digestive problems.
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Chronic – Leads to more serious issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal tract disorders.
This pain is usually characterized by a burning sensation that worsens when eating. You may also experience bloating and heaviness in your stomach, which is a sign that digestion is disrupted.
Jaw Clenching from Stress
Clenching, and even pain in the jaw, occurs in people who respond to stress by grinding their teeth. This can happen both consciously and unconsciously. This phenomenon is known as bruxism. It usually happens while we sleep, and stress exacerbates this condition. It’s advisable to visit a dentist and get a mouth guard because teeth grinding can cause significant dental damage.
Headaches Due to Stress
These appear unexpectedly, especially when we relax, typically on weekends. Stress accumulated throughout the week surfaces, and headaches, whether tension headaches or migraines, can last up to 72 hours, affecting around 70% of people.
Weakened Immunity from Stress
Anxiety is a common cause of weakened immunity since disturbing thoughts can weaken our immune response. Chronic stress worsens this, making it harder for the body to fight off infections, such as the flu, herpes, and other viruses. In some cases, stress can suppress the immune system to the point that it becomes seriously compromised.
High Blood Pressure from Stress
The connection between stress and high blood pressure is indisputable. Anxiety, excessive worry, and tension cause physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, sweating, and ultimately high blood pressure. Prolonged hypertension leads to worry, which in turn causes anxiety, while stress hormones affect increased heart rate and blood vessel constriction, making high blood pressure a logical and expected consequence.
Insomnia
Insomnia caused by stress is extremely frustrating. Not only will you be constantly tired, but it also negatively affects your health. The more present the stress, the worse your sleep will be, and prolonged insomnia can lead to periodic migraine attacks. When it comes to chronic insomnia, treatment and the course of it are determined by a psychiatrist, who may, among other things, recommend sleeping medications or resort to some behavioral psychotherapy techniques.
How to Get Rid of Stress?
Here are some tips that may help in the battle against stress:
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Avoid caffeine and alcohol
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Practice breathing exercises
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Spend time in fresh air
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Walk and don’t skip moderate physical activity
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Respect your sleep and rest whenever possible
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Share your problems with someone
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Avoid spending too much time in front of screens
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Laugh
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Keep a journal
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Say NO whenever something doesn’t feel right
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Eat citrus fruits and fresh vegetables
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Use quality Strong Nature supplements for better sleep and stress reduction, such as Antistress Formula Day, Antistress Formula Night, DeepSleep Melatonin Formula, and Melatonin 1 mg.
Don’t let stress dictate your life and drain you on a daily basis. Overcome it with the power of nature. Order the best anti-stress supplements online at the Strong Nature website.
