Our body has the ability to handle stress, however only in small doses. A minimum level of stress is even beneficial for us. Stress is beneficial when we have to study for a class test or have to run a marathon, given that the stress level is not debilitating. In such cases, once the stress is gone, our body goes back to normal and we experience no long lasting effects.
Stress affects us mentally, but does it end there? No, stress affects our physical health as well. How does stress affect your physical health though? Treatment for stress in Dubai and therapy for stress in Dubai is available at just a click of a button. Don't suffer alone, reach out to our Psychologist in Dubai for therapy in Dubai.
When we experience stress, our body goes into what is known as the fight-flight-freeze response, which is our body’s response to the stress. Fight response is dealing with the stressor head on. Imagine you are faced with a grizzly bear, in the fight response, you will decide to fight the bear. In flight response, you decide to run away from the bear and remove yourself from the situation. In the freeze response, you see the bear and freeze on the spot and will be unable to fight or flee. During the fight, flight or freeze response, the blood vessels in our body, especially to the large muscles and the heart, dilate and increase in the amount of blood pumped can be seen. Thus, chronic stress can contribute to long term problems of the heart and blood vessels. Consistent increase in the heart rate can take a toll on our body and increase the risk of a person developing hypertension, heart attack or a stroke. For individuals who have respiratory issues, the increase in stress for a long period of time can cause further problems in breathing. To know more about what response you engage in under dangerous situations, reach out to our therapist in Dubai for therapy in Dubai for anxiety and counseling in Dubai for stress.
When dealing with stress, our muscles tend to tense up and stay that way till the stress is gone. When our muscles tense for long periods of time, our body may form other reactions which may even lead to stress-related disorders. An example of such tension in our body caused due to stress which leads to pain is tension headaches and migraines or chronic pain in areas where your muscles get tensed the most when experiencing stress.
Stress has been found to exert an impact on the nervous system of humans and cause structural changes in parts of the brain. A part of our nervous system known as the autonomic nervous system, which is divided into the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), is what deals with stress. SNS prepares the body for responding to stress, and the PNS calms our body and brings it back to normal. Stress can cause drain on the body and causes wear and tear. Additionally, continuous activation of the nervous system as a reaction to stress does not leave much for other body functions. Under stress, it appears what the nervous system does is, it focuses on specific parts and functions of the body, For example, it increases the heartbeat and respiration while keeping digestion and similar functions in the back seat. Thus, stress also affects digestion and the amount of nutrients that our body is able to absorb. Additionally, stress can also cause diarrhea or constipation.
Our intestine has a barrier that protects the body from most types of food related bacteria. Increased amount of stress can cause this barrier to weaken and allow gut bacteria to enter the body. Though our immune system will be able to take care of these bacteria, increased levels of stress for a prolonged period of time can affect our immune system, thus reducing our ability to prevent our body from a potential infection.
In case of gender specific effects of prolonged stress, menstruation of females are affected. High levels of stress may be associated with irregular menstrual cycles, more painful periods, and even changes in the length of each cycle. In severe cases, menstruation may stop. Stress can also adversely affect a person's ability to conceive a child and cause problems in the person's health during pregnancy and postpartum adjustment. Chronic stress can also affect the fetus. Stress causes our body to release a hormone called cortisol. Too high an amount of cortisol in the body can affect the normal functioning of the male reproductive system. Increased amount of stress for a prolonged period of time can also affect testosterone production, which ends up causing a decline in libido or sex drive, and can even lead to erectile dysfunction or impotence.
Everyone must be familiar with the butterflies in the stomach, feeling that one has when you see your crush. Unfortunately, this feeling is not exclusive to seeing your crush. One may also feel it when they are faced with stress. Stress affects gut-brain communication and can cause pain, bloating and other forms of discomfort.
The above mentioned are simply a few of the physical effects of stress. These are not the only systems in our body that are affected by stress. Research is still going on and the different ways in which stress affects us mentally and physically. It is important to effectively deal with stress and also come up with different ways through which we can cope and manage With the unexpected happenings in our daily lives. Thus, If you have been experiencing stress for a prolonged period of time, now would be the right time to do something about it and speak to our Psychologist in Dubai and therapist in Dubai for therapy in Dubai in order to prevent any long term effects on our body. Treatment for stress in Dubai and treatment for anxiety in Dubai and therapy for anxiety in Dubai is available at Kaizen's team of Psychologist and therapist in Dubai.
Kaizen Wellbeing is an online therapy platform in Dubai, UAE that caters to South Asian community. There is a dearth of good therapy establishments that accommodate the mental health needs of the brown community. We aim to bridge that gap by providing you quality and affordable care by qualified and warm therapists. Reach out at hello@kaizenwb.com or +971 50 961 8796 and book your first session towards understanding yourself and other’s better.
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