Everyone experiences stress, and not all of it is bad, but when stress levels consistently stay high or become chronic, they can cause a large variety of health issues – or make existing health problems worse. Damage to the brain, heart, and other organs can be caused by the overproduction of stress hormones and can prevent cells from functioning normally. The Mayo Clinic explains that chronic stress impacts the body, which can impact your mood, which in turn can impact behavior. Too much stress can impact our entire lives affecting our health, our relationships, and our quality of life on a day-to-day basis.

The impacts of chronic stress can include:

• An increased chance of heart attack and stroke
• Stomach problems, such as ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Anxiety and depression
• Weight gain
• A compromised immune system
• Impaired memory and cognitive function

So what’s the best way to deal with stress? Here are a few things you can do:

• Learn to identify healthy vs. unhealthy stress. Some stress is normal and can be positive, like before a big presentation, a medical procedure, or on your daughter’s wedding day, and can even help you rise to the occasion. But if you have major stress that interferes with your ability to function or to carry out your day-to-day activities, that may be something you need to address.
• Visit your doctor. High cholesterol or blood pressure, sleep disturbances, being overweight and many other health problems may be linked to or caused by stress. But you may be so used to living this way that you don’t even notice (or realize) that life doesn’t have to be so difficult. Visit your doctor and get an objective opinion on your general health and how stress may be a factor.
• Practice mindfulness.  Take a class or find an app that works for you, and discover the benefits of learning to be in the present moment.  You don’t have to sit on a cushion or start chanting to practice or get the benefits of meditation and mindfulness.
• Exercise. You can reduce stress and improve your mood with almost any type of exercise.  Find something you enjoy doing that works with your lifestyle – then make it a habit.
• Get counseling. Sometimes we are simply unable to handle the effects of stress on our own, or we may be dealing with unresolved trauma (a type of delayed stress response). If stress, depression, anxiety, or even loneliness have started to interfere with your every day functioning, it may be time to get help and seek out a mental health professional. Help is available: don’t wait until it’s too late.

Stress is a serious issue. There are many ways to reduce and deal with stress, fortunately. Keep going until you find the tools and strategies that will work for you.

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