Effects Of Stress

It is difficult define stress because it is a highly subjective phenomenon. It differs for each of us. Things that are distressful for some people can be pleasurable for others. We also all respond to stress differently. Some people blush, some eat more. Others grow pale or eat less. There are also many emotional and physical responses to stress. The effect of stress on you, will be a unique expereince. Here are some common signs and symptoms relating to the effects of stress.

• Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain
• Insomnia, nightmares, disturbing dreams
• Difficulty in making decisions.
• Feeling overloaded or overwhelmed.
• Frequent crying spells or suicidal thoughts
• Tremors, trembling of lips, hands
• Neck ache, back pain, muscle spasms
• Light headedness, faintness, dizziness
• Rapid Heart Beat
• Fast breathing.
• Sweating, and sweaty palms.
• Upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea.

Over time, stress can affect your:
Digestion. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or ulcerative colitis symptoms are all worsened by stress.
Immune system. Constant stress can make you more likely to get sick more often. Stress can also make chronic illness symptoms worse.
Muscles. The efffect of constant tension from stress can lead to neck, shoulder, and low back pain. Stress may make rheumatoid arthritis worse.
Heart. The effect of stress is also linked to high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia), blood clots, hardening of the arteries, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and heart failure.
Reproductive organs. Stress is linked to low fertility, erection problems, problems during pregnancy, and painful menstrual periods.
Lungs. Stress can make symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worse.
Skin. Skin problems such as acne and psoriasis are made worse by stress.

Effects of stress influence thoughts and emotions - the way you think, act, and feel.

• You may feel cranky and unable to deal with even small problems.
• You may feel frustrated, lose your temper more often, or shout at others for no reason.
• Another effect is to feel jumpy or tired all the time.
• You may find it hard to focus on tasks.
• You may find yourself worrying too much about small things.
• Sometimes the effect of stress it that you imagine that bad things are happening or about to happen.

How does stress affect YOU?

This may be influenced by several factors:

1. Your innate personality.
2. Learned behavior from your family about responding to stress.
3. How you think about and handle stress.
4. What type of social support you have.
5. The type of stress also matters.