Most of us experience a certain amount of stress on a daily basis. But what actually happens to our bodies when we’re under stress? Experts say that the body can handle a single stressful day without any problems. While everyday stressors might make some people feel tired, it’s nothing the body can’t deal with.
But what happens when you’re under stress for a whole week? At this point your body is more susceptible to viral infections and sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep can lead to other difficulties, such as poor memory and a compromised immune system.
If you’re feeling high levels of stress for a month, both physical and psychological symptoms of burnout will occur. You may begin to feel irritable and start having anxious thoughts. You might even find yourself becoming cynical and detached. On a physical level, chronic stress can cause gut issues, hair loss and diarrhea or constipation.
After six months of feeling constantly stressed out and dealing with these symptoms, you might reach the true point of burnout and become pessimistic and isolate yourself from others. Some people self-medicate with drugs and alcohol during these times.
So what can you do to relax and remain stress-free? It helps to pay attention to the stressors in your life and reduce the unnecessary ones. It’s also important to separate working hours from non-working hours. Useful habits include creating a ritual for winding down when returning home from work and ensuring that you get enough restful sleep. Lastly, don’t forget to breathe! Deep breathing has a host of benefits, from decreasing stress to increasing energy.
