The impacts of Stress & how a Naturopath can help!
The Complications of Chronic or Long-term Stress
In the fast paced society that we live in, it's easy to see why so many people are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and run down. From work or study deadlines to looking after the family, financial pressures to social media, and everything in between, no wonder we need a holiday!
Stress, whether psychological, biological or physiological, can cause changes in the body and affect how we feel day to day. Chronic and/or long term stress presents differently in everyone and can affect multiple body systems, particularly the digestive, immune, musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. Some people will experience anxiety and low moods, while others might experience lowered immunity, digestive upsets, or muscle tightness.
Some signs and symptoms of chronic stress include:
Nervous system - noticeable changes in mood, anxiety and/or depression, irritability, moodiness, severe PMS, headaches, migraines, insomnia, sleepnesses, fatigue, brain fog.
Cardiovascular - heart palpitations, high blood pressure, chest pain, shortness of breath.
Musculoskeletal - cramps, spasms and tension in muscles, muscle tightness (particularly in shoulders and neck), aches and pains, restless legs (especially at night), grinding teeth, jaw clenching.
Digestive - bloating, reflux, heartburn, changes in bowel motions (diarrhea or constipation), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, change in appetite, increased cravings.
Immune - lowered immunity, recurrent colds/flus, recurrent infections, poor recovery time.
Endocrine - changes to the menstrual cycle length, increased PMS, increased pain during period, heavier than normal bleed, decreased libido, decreased fertility, fluctuations in weight.
Skin - acne, skin flare ups, inflammation.
And more!
Stress can have a huge impact on our health and it's easy to ignore the signs of stress or brush them off as something else. However, it is important to be on the lookout for signs of chronic stress and start making changes to your life or reach out to a health care practitioner, friend or family member for help!
At Caitlin Jane Naturopath, through herbal and nutritional medicine, alongside diet and lifestyle interventions, we can help to calm your nervous system, improve your bodies ability to deal with stress, and come up with long-term solutions to combat the effects of stress!