The lifestyle we lead today is synonymous with stressful life. We desire accomplishments, but before their time. We put too much on our plates even before finishing the already existing pile. All this and more affect us physically and emotionally.
Do you feel you are carrying a ton on your shoulders even when simply working in an air-conditioned room while being seated comfortably?
Do you feel the need to be competitive to make your mark?
Do you fear the troubles inside you could break you down at any point in your life?
Do you feel the clutch of stress and anxiety to the point of being helpless? What do you do for stress relief?
What Causes Stress?
Stress is an emotion felt by almost everyone at some point in their lives; the intensity keeps changing based on circumstances. Teachers, politicians, doctors, engineers, students, homemakers and almost everybody experience stress in their vocations. But that’s not the biggest concern. The biggest concern is how they deal with stress and its impact on health, and also their reactions due to stress.
Stress is a stimulation that alerts your body and mind that something important needs your attention. Now you might wonder, how is stress bad then? Well, stress accompanied by overthinking and lack of emotional control can swell up our energies to make us react adversely. Take a look at the physical symptoms of stress and see what it can do to your body.
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What are the Physical Symptoms of Stress?
1. Back pain
When you are stressed, you often tend to experience muscle pain, body aches, sprains and back pain. The pain often becomes unbearable and requires medical attention.
Example: As a result of extreme work pressure and crunched deadlines, many millennials complain of severe body pain and go for physiotherapy sessions.
2. Insomnia
Insomnia, one of the most common disorders that plague people at old age, is a growing concern among today’s youth. Stress causes sleeplessness, exhaustion and anxiety in most people as they give in to external pressures.
3. Headache and Nausea
Constant thinking about the problems that build stress disturbs inner peace and leads to headaches, nausea, dizziness and vomiting.
4. Heart Issues
When stress overpowers our awareness, it creates panic and it gets extremely tough to settle down. The physical effect of stress increases the heartbeat and can cause chest pain and other issues.
5. Gastric Problems
Indigestion, diarrhea and constipation are all caused by stress and anxiety. It’s important to address stress first to stop these diseases from creeping up time and again.
6. Feeling Nervous
Have you ever experienced feeling nervous, shaky, or a dry mouth when overly stressed? It is one way your body responds to stress.
7. Fatigue
The physical effects of stress come in the form of fatigue and also result in lifelong autoimmune diseases like ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis, gastritis, etc. Overcome fatigue by addressing the tensions in your mind before treating physical exhaustion.
8. Hair Problems
Hairfall, thinning of cuticles and scalp issues also emanate from stress, causing imbalance.
The physical effect of stress is not limited to the above symptoms. Many people experience hormonal imbalance as a result of stress. All of this reverberates a quick fix solution that reinforces the idea of work-life integration and dealing with stress effectively.
“A disease-free body, a quiver-free breath, a stress-free mind, an inhibition-free intellect, an obsession-free memory, an ego that includes all, and a soul free from sorrow is the birthright of every human being.”
-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Relief Amidst Chaos
Stress is an inevitable part of life and the message it sends should be perceived intently. Stress relief begins when we choose to move a step ahead and prepare ourselves rather than be scared of stress’s impact on us.
Here is what you can do to relieve stress and its impact on your body and mind.
Do Not Fight It
Stress necessarily does not ask you to fight it out and defend your place. No! It tells you to accept it and see the possibilities after that. The death of a dear one can cause severe stress in an individual to the point of abandonment of everything. The right way to deal with it is to accept the truth and plan the next course of action to attain inner peace. Regardless of the situation we are in, what’s important is to brave it and move on in life.
Turn Inside
Your physical and spiritual beings are interconnected within; hence every answer you seek is within you. Turn to your inside and find your answers with meditation, mindful breathing and positive self-talk. The physical symptoms of stress can lead to emotional imbalance and negatively impact our behavioral and cognitive aspects. A calm mind could bring back the focus on the problem at hand rather than stressing about it. Do you know the glory of waking up early? Try getting up early in the morning to feel more awakened and joyful the rest of the day.
Look at the Positive
Stress, at most times, wears us down because we limit our thoughts to the negatives. Once you logically distance yourself from the situation, you can do something about it. Also, if you tend to think about your achievements and good times, it can distract you from stressful situations. Break down your tasks into an actionable plan and refrain from procrastination.
Seek Help
The physical symptoms of stress accompanied by worries, anxiety and depression could lead to severe conditions. When you are burned out by stress, seeking help as talking to a family, friend or a relative could bring a much-needed difference. Many programs are available on our website to help you deal with stress effectively. The Art of Living principles propounded by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar focus on enhancing the sense of awareness and positivity in you. But, it is for you to take the first step.
Serve Others
“When you make service your sole purpose in life, it eliminates fear, focuses your mind, and gives you meaning. “
– Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Making a slight difference in someone’s life through the tiniest of good deeds counts as a big service. When you help others, you feel good about yourself and the other person. Even when you can't control everything around you, dialogue and positive conversations expand your mind, relax your soul and relieve stress. Divert your attention and volunteer for service, providing social and emotional support. The more you give, the more you get in return as blessings.
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Living With It
Stress is part and parcel of our life and even when we feel overwhelmed by its intensity, we must not let it seep into us. Now that you understand the physical effects of stress, listen to your body, seek help and deal with stress effectively. Maintain discipline in your routine and get enough rest.
“The more contented we are, the more we receive in life.”
– Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Join our happiness program and discover the path to inner peace, calmer self and better connections.
FAQ on impact of stress on the body
Insomnia, headache, nausea, heart issues, gastric problems, nervousness, fatigue and hair issues are how stress affects your body.
The five effects of stress on your body are insomnia, headache, heart issues, gastric problems and nervousness.
The five emotional signs of stress are restlessness, lack of motivation, losing interest in daily activities, crying bouts or anger bursts and feeling guilty or hopeless.
The heart, kidneys, stomach, intestines, liver, lungs, and brain are the organs affected by stress.
1. Stress necessarily does not ask you to fight it out and defend your place. No! It tells you to accept it and see the possibilities after that. Like the death of a dear one
2. Turn inwards and find your answers in meditation
3. Focus on the positive side of a disturbing situation
4. Seek help from family members, friends or relatives
5. Programs like Online Meditation and Breath Workshop can help handle stressful situations.
Stress pains feel like aches in the neck, shoulders, back, head and muscles. Chest pains, indigestion or heartburn and rapid heartbeats are some other stress-related symptoms.
Elevated stress hormone levels increase heart rate, risk of hypertension, heart pain, panic attack, insomnia, headache, nausea, heart issues, gastric problems, nervousness, fatigue and hair issues are some of the ways in which stress affects your body.
1. Fatigue
2. Insomnia
3. Gastric problems
4. Aches in the neck, shoulders, back, head and muscles
5. Jaw clenching
6. Increased heartbeat
7. Heart issues
1. Fatigue
2. Insomnia
3. Gastric problems
4. Aches in the neck, shoulders, back, head and muscles
5. Jaw clenching
6. Increased heart beat
7. Heart issues
8. Eating too much or too less
1. Take your attention to slow and deep breaths. It increases your energy level
2. Listen to people with more problems than you!
3. Visit a mental hospital for a day! Listen to the patients there, and observe their lives. It will teach you a new perspective
4. Visit a crematorium or cemetery, and remember that you will also be there one day
Sleep well
5. Eat nutritious food and avoid meals that contain processed foods, refined sugars, stimulants, or chemicals
1. Being in nature, witnessing the breeze, the ripples in water, the chirping sound of the birds, giggles of children playing around are good for reducing anxiety naturally
2. Herbal tea - lavender, lemon, chamomile and passion flower help to relax
3. Aroma therapy with lavender, lemon grass and grapefruit oils reduces anxiety
4. Lifestyle changes
