Stress is usually considered a mental health issue, but it can manifest in physical ways as well — and the long-term effects can be serious. Ongoing or sudden and traumatic mental and emotional stress can cause:
TENSION HEADACHES
There’s a good chance your headache is due to stress. Tension headaches are the most common form of headaches, with 30% to 80% of adults occasionally suffering from them, and women twice as likely to get them.
CHEST PAIN
Chest pain can be linked to stress, although obviously it can indicate much more serious conditions, so if you suffer from frequent chest pain, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor.
ACHES & PAINS
A hectic life or stressful event can take a toll on your muscles, with pain normally manifesting in the neck, shoulders and lower back. A March 2012 study found that stress is actually associated with the body losing its ability to regulate the inflammatory response, which could be related to stress pains.
UPSET STOMACH, NAUSEA
Since your digestive system is highly sensitive and full of nerves, it can have a hard time dealing with your stress. You might experience stomachaches or nausea in rare, extremely high-stress situations like going through a breakup; or the symptoms might be more persistent and caused by small, daily stressors like making a deadline.
TROUBLE SLEEPING, INSOMNIA
Seventy percent of adults with chronic stress have trouble sleeping.
REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES
Low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, irregular periods & low fertility can be a result of stress.
OTHER
Your immune system takes a hit when you’re excessively stressed, which means it can’t do its job of fighting colds and infections well.
Stress can generally make you tired, grumpy, impatient and generally unwell. Body Stress Release is a wonderful technique for relieving this kind of stress which has found its way into your body and become ‘locked in’.
Laine Redpath 