Guest Contributor
In today’s society, it is extremely easy to become stressed. With constant activity and so much going on, anyone can get overloaded. When you get stressed, it doesn’t only affect your mood. but impact you physically as well. Dealing with stress regularly can do a lot of damage.
Physical Appearance
Stress can begin to change your physical appearance. You may lose that glow that you once had. You could start to develop wrinkles on your forehead or around your eyes. Many people also gain a substantial amount of weight due to the stress that they have in their lives. Cortisol is a substance that is produced in the body. When you are stressed, it can increase in production, which leads to weight gain, primarily in the belly region. Before long, you’ve got several extra pounds you don’t know what to do with.
Sickness and Disease
In addition to your physical appearance changing, stress can also make you sick and lead to diseases. For instance, if you are stressed, it can impact your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness. Studies have shown that stress can contribute to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and many other diseases. If you experience excessive stress in regular life, it can significantly shorten your lifespan.
There are many professions and businesses that are connected with high stress levels, and they’re not just sitting behind a computer. Corporate executives and online stock trading account owners might have just as much stress as firefighters and police officers, in some scenarios. Decreasing stress in your job can have benefits that last for decades to come, on both physical and emotional levels. Take a look at your workplace and see if there are changes you can make to bring more balance to your life in that area.
How you perceive stress is a huge part of successfully managing stress. We all meet with stressful situations as part of normal, everyday life. Incorporating stress reduction techniques will help to keep the negative effects of stress at bay.
Considerations
It is critically important that you find a way to get rid of stress in your life. Whether that’s getting a massage regularly, doing daily yoga, taking a hot bubble bath, or taking time to read a book, it needs to be something to help you get things off of your mind. It may be time to rethink your schedule and prioritize your life a bit as well. Learning to manage stress goes a long way toward your good health and happiness.
About the author: This post is supported by Jen Smith, a wellness consultant and advocate of healthy lifestyles.
[Image: rachel titiriga at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license]
