It is not a secret anymore that stress is pretty dangerous for one’s overall well-being. However, with such a fast paced lifestyle, what we do not realize is that we really need to be aware of our everyday habits and routine. Why is stress called the silent killer? Because without coming into your notice, it starts eating you from the inside and gradually also shows up on the outside. When you know how can stress kill you, half your battle has been won. But, can stress kill you in your sleep, can stress kill your appetite and does stress leads to weight loss? Let us find out!
It is like reaching the ninth cloud when all your plans go according to how you wanted them to. But the moment an obstacle arises, you start feeling challenged and troubled. You constantly keep thinking about it and destroy your mental peace. But solutions are nowhere to be found. And this is what stress occurs and the whole act is linked to several health related infirmities which keep on increasing if you do not take a positive step.
Can Stress Kill You?
We understand that lifestyle these days is pretty haphazard. And the human body is actually designed in such a manner that it experiences stress and reacts to the same. Stress can be positive as well as negative. But did you know, negative stress can easily and definitely affect your functionality and start to kill you?
Stress becomes negative when someone is exposed to continuous challenges without gaining relaxation. And that is how stress and anxiety related tensions keep accumulating. So, without making any noise, stress rewires your brain, causes chronic fatigue, increases your blood pressure levels, disrupts the immune system and severely risks your heart health. Stress and anxiety can arise from fear, uneasiness, worry, emotional disparities, hormonal imbalances, physical health discords, pregnancy, ailments, workload or any such pressures. Once the tension activates your stress responses, it takes quite a long time to shut them off. Therefore, learning how to deal with a stressful situation is very important else this is how can stress kill you!
#1. Can Stress Kill You In Your Sleep?
Constantly stressing your brain can seriously affect your sleeping patterns. You get more irritated in your daily routine and also get highly reactive in almost every circumstance. Stress does not let you relax or stay calm and trouble you in your sleep and even otherwise. Sleep is important, but your mental, as well as physical health, deteriorates when you aren't able to get an ideal 6 to 8 hours relaxing sleep. And probably you won't even realize such a thing happens.
So, less sleep is equal to more stress hormone release and vice versa. And of course, there are cases of early deaths when someone is facing a lot of stress. Chronic stress can keep on elevating and can really kill you in your sleep. This is like a high vulnerability period. A heart attack can simply be triggered and one can depart if there is no treatment received at the earliest.
(Image Courtesy: Io9)
#2. Can Stress Kill Your Appetite?
People going through difficult times can frequently lose weight as it upsets their stomach, cause abdominal pains, and hence kill their appetite. Stress tends to suppress a majority of their biological functioning and urges related to hunger. Stress can kill your appetite or on the other hand, just turn you into a voracious person.
But stress can also turn into a severe disorder and likewise complicate your routine functioning, Need a scientific explanation of how it happens? This is what you need to know! There occurs an excessive secretion of acids in the stomach when you are relentlessly stressing yourself. These acids lead to feelings of nausea along with satiety. You experience trouble in swallowing the food and all this process suppresses your desires to eat well. Other reasons can include the stress of not being socially accepted that kill your appetite. When you aren't happy, you either give up on food or crave more to distract the mind.
(Image Courtesy: The Great Courses Daily)
#3. Does Stress Leads To Weight Loss or Weight Gain?
It can happen both ways. When you are stressed, you may tend to eat more and eat unsupervised. Your body might get into a fat storage mode. But it can even happen this way - You might be exercising pretty well and eating a healthy diet but your body might not show up the results. There also are chances of sudden and unintentional weight loss happening due to any stressful circumstance.
Therefore, chronic stress can lead you to either drastically gain weight or tremendously lose those pounds. There are altered eating habits along with a loss of pleasure in any activity you take up. Hence, the feelings of worthlessness can either get you deep into a depressive state or simply make you crave more and eat more. And getting back to your shape is equally difficult if you cannot resist your stress levels. You absolutely need to find out the trigger and work upon reducing them first. It is only then that you can manage the weight issues without any troubles.
(Image Courtesy: Tomcorson)
#4. The Stress-Sex Connection
Chronic stress or even of a moderate level can destroy your sex life. You may lack the urge, your hormonal levels get disturbed along with affected metabolism and sluggish feelings. Stress and anxiety lead to a bad body image which, in turn, leads to a bad sex life. It can make us feel ruthless about ourselves and give rise to lowering desires of being naked in front of our partner. We cannot get over such thoughts and there also is no time to nurture the relationship.
Chronic stress affects the regularity of periods in women. It also impacts the fertility levels of both men and women. Once you get trapped in the vicious circle of stress or depression, it is difficult to dodge back without ruining any of your associations. Bad habits like excessive drinking or smoking also deteriorate your happiness. You might feel they are stress busters, but just think about the bigger picture. That feel-good buzz is temporary and too much of alcohol or tobacco just makes your sex life less pleasurable. It is the same with excessive consumption of caffeinated products. You are dehydrated and do not feel aroused by the idea of sexual intimacy.
(Image Courtesy: Lybrate Blog)
#5. Stress Impacts The Skin And Hair Health
We all know that stress not only takes a toll on our psychological health but it also lead to dermatological issues. When you do not feel satisfied on the inside, it absolutely shows on the outside. You start noticing acute acne, aging skin, brittle nails as well as severe hair fall.
The stress hormones increase your skin’s oil production, a person can go under the fallout or the hair fall phase and the habit of nail biting becomes unstoppable. All such problems arise due to no relief from stress. You do not identify the underlying problems that triggers stress and just opt for over the counter medications that suppress the symptoms. What you don’t recognize is that something needs to change on the inside. Your thoughts are powerful. They can either make you or simply break you. Negative thoughts work intensely to break your immunity and expose you to all kinds of body related threats. If you do not work on correcting the symptoms naturally, all other treatments fail to help you.
(Image Courtesy: Live Strong)
How To Manage Your Stress Levels?
#1. Do not give up on socializing/ networking.
(Image Courtesy: Bustle)
#2. Opt for relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation or tai-chi.
#3. Keep some time aside for your hobbies and other interests.
#4. Learn the aspects of forgiveness to not hold any grudges.
(Image Courtesy: Desiring God)
#5. Try to maintain your sense of humor.
#6. Talk to a close friend or family member and share what you are going through.
#7. Get plenty of sleep and do not hesitate in taking offs from your work or school if you cannot otherwise manage the same.
#8. Avoid the intake of caffeine. It really doesn't help in the long run.
#9. Practice the art of expressing gratitude. You will surely observe a difference in the quality of life you are currently living.
(Image Courtesy: Elephant Journal)
#10. Witness the magic of nature. Go outside of your present circumstances and do something active. Even a few minutes would reveal a difference.
#11. Try not to roll your eyes downwards when the next time someone asks you to smile. It might seem difficult, but give a genuine smile leaving behind all your worries.
#12. Let your feelings out. Talk, laugh and/ or cry when you feel the need to do so. Do not let it internalize and accumulate.
#13. See a doctor if your symptoms persist and you are not able to come out of the stressful phase. Medical assistance is sometimes really essential to avoid any critical damages.
Liked what you just read? Want to read more such inspirational stuff? Or want to share any of your personal experiences/ opinions? Let us know through the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!
(Featured Image Courtesy: The Good Life)
26 Opinions
3 Opinions
Stress can definitely be harmful for the human mind and body. However, experiencing some of it is really necessary for one to grow in life. Short bursts of stress can help you ignite the fire that is necessary to get the right amount of inspiration. For instance, when there is something that requires immediate attention, one needs to undergo some sort of pressure to get the work instantly done. I might not give my 100% or might underperform otherwise, but the pressure that occasionally builds up, keeps me going. Without that, I would probably be a little more carefree and not really get that far. The indispensable aspect here is to perceive stress as a productive agent. And relaxing techniques like deep breathing, yoga, meditation are all necessary for not letting stress overtake our emotional and physical peace. Stress is your enemy but it can also become the most productive ally.
Another reason why stress is necessary in life is that it helps you compete better and succeed in life. Seeing someone else on top, or seeing someone rising above me would inculcate in me the thoughts of commitment and healthy competition. So, it is rightly said, when you keep going slow and steady, that does not work. At times, you need to test yourself, not be passive about survival and outperform to show incredible results. It awakens the necessary drive in you because the idea of losing isn't what one would want to think of. Stress gets you filled with determination, there's a desire to do well and the creative, as well as productivity levels, are like never before.
It is also interesting to know that stress doesn't really kill you as long as you don't let it kill your positivity. On some level, moderate or intense, we do face stress. But that is how a sense of preparedness always remains in our routine activities. Along with readiness, you will also be able to equip yourself into quick and better decision-making. And depending upon the kind of stress you are facing, your willpower is challenged. Stress and anxiety don't just develop from working 8 hours at the workplace. It also arises from gym workouts, tremendous results achieved from a decision you made or anything of that sort. Even the professional stress keeps you on your toes and this is what keeps you energized and motivated for taking up any task. You are more likely to give your best and help yourself efficiently.
However, the long bouts of stress can be damaging. But you need to understand the concept of stress and anger management; else the effects can be adverse. So, the better we know of the positive ways to manage stress, the more valuable it becomes when used properly. And one should always remember the way we respond to stress which gradually brings about alertness, danger, challenges or opportunities.