subject: How Stress Negatively Affects Us [print this page] How Stress Negatively Affects Us How Stress Negatively Affects Us
Scientific studies have already shown the negative effects of stress. However, people who live busy lives and deal with hectic schedules usually forget about the detrimental effects of too much stress and anxiety. Instead of focusing on finding stress relief activities and thinking of ways to relax their tired bodies and minds, they tend to just go with the flow of today's fast-paced world.
If you are one of those people who rarely finds the time for vacations and relaxing activities, you should probably start changing your unhealthy daily routines and dedicate some of your time for relaxation. Try to spend a day or two on an out-of-town trip or indulging in a complete body massage in order to prevent yourself from experiencing the negative effects of stress.
Here are some important things you should know about stress and stress management.
What does stress mean?
Stress is your body's normal response to some of the events in your life that threaten your normal psychological balance. Whenever you sense any sign of upcoming danger, your body tries to defend you in some way by undergoing a fight-or-flight reaction, or also known as stress response. As long as your stress response is working properly, you would remain focused and alert during emergency situations. The proper functioning of your stress response also gives you the surge of adrenaline you need in order to survive life-threatening events.
Although stress could work to your advantage sometimes, too much of it could cause major damages to your health and psychological functioning. The negative effects of stress could also affect your mood, your relationships with your loved ones and even your productivity at work.
What are its causes?
Stress is usually caused by any situation that could affect your psychological functioning. Whether you are experiencing an exhausting work schedule or complicated relationships with your loved ones, you are bound to experience the drastic effects of stress.
Any event or situation that demands too much from you could be considered as stressful activities. Even positive events such as buying a new house and receiving a promotion could cause stress, especially if you have not prepared well for the said events.
What are its effects?
The negative effects of stress have already been documented in various scientific journals. These effects include aggression, imbalances in your mood and psychological functioning and even depression.
Long-term exposure to stressful events could also lead to decreases in your physiological functioning. These physical complications include fluctuating levels of blood pressure, suppressed immune systems, rapid aging, increased susceptibility to stroke or cardiac arrest, and, sometimes, even infertility.
Now that you already know how a stressful life could affect your overall health, you should think of ways to avoid too much anxiety and stress. With proper stress management, you could dodge off all the negative effects of stress and live a longer and healthier life.
