INITIAL SIGNS OF STRESS CAN INCLUDE:

• A change in social behaviour (staying in often, going out more often)

• Aches and pains

• Avoiding others

• Brain fog

• Change in appetite

• Change in emotional responses to others

• Changes in bowel habits

• Changes in spending habits

• Clenched jaw

• Decline in sexual desire, or ability

• Digestive complaints

• Easily agitated, moody, resentful

• Emotional

• Emotional withdrawal

• Eye strain

• Fast and incessant talking, or avoidance of talking

• Fear

• Feeling lonely, misunderstood, judged, depressed

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Frequent infections, colds, flu

• Headaches

• Impatience

• Inability to focus

• Inability to stop and sit still

• Increase in social media time, phone time, screentime, gaming

• Increased alcohol or drug use

• Insomnia or sleepiness

• Loss of control

• Low energy

• Low self-esteem

• Musculoskeletal tightness and pain

• Nervous behaviours

• Nervousness, shaking

• Overactive and/or mind

• Pessimism

• Procrastination

• Ringing in the ears

• Sexual addictions

• Social anxiety

• Unfocused or cloudy thinking

• Worrying

THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC STRESS ON THE BODILY SYSTEMS INCLUDE:
Chronic stress is linked to many conditions, both psychological and physical, including hypertension; heart disease; obesity; metabolic syndrome; Type II diabetes; arthritis, addictions to alcohol, nicotine, prescription drugs; behavioural-related addictions (i.e. internet, social media, food, gambling, gaming); mood disorders; and anxiety disorders to name just a few.

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

• Muscle tension. Chronic stress causes the muscles in the body to be in a more or less constant state of guardedness, which can have a domino effect on the muscles and promote stress-related disorders (e.g. migraine, headache, TMJ, lower back pain, chronic pain).

• Stress and chronic painful musculoskeletal conditions. Stress can exacerbate existing musculoskeletal conditions and increase the level of discomfort and pain.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

• Respiratory symptoms can be brought on by stress. This includes shortness of breath and rapid breathing. Stress can also exacerbate breathing problems for individuals with pre-existing respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchitis.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

• High blood pressure and hypertension. Prolonged stress is one of the leading causes of hypertension.

• Heart disease and conditions. A consistent increase in heart rate, elevated levels of stress hormones and increased blood pressure in the body due to stress, exponentially increases the chance of a heart attack or stroke.

• Cholesterol levels.  There is compelling evidence showing that chronic stress can cause an indirect increase in ‘bad’ cholesterol.

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

• Endocrine disorders. Chronic stress can lead to alterations in the level of many hormones in the body, which can lead to endocrine disorders such as Graves’ disease, gonadal dysfunction, psychosexual dwarfism, obesity, and aggravate pre-existing disorders such as adrenal crisis, thyroid dysfunction and thyroid storm.

• Metabolic syndrome and Type II diabetes has a solid link with chronic stress.

GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
The gastrointestinal tract contains hundreds of millions of neurons which are in constant communication with the brain. Stress can directly affect this brain-gut communication, and trigger numerous gastrointestinal issues.

• MICROBIOME. The gut is also the home to the microbiome - also known as the ecosystem of microbes (bacteria and yeasts) living primarily in an individuals’ digestive tract, is responsible for governing almost every system in the body. In a healthy individual, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract will be comprised of a balance of these (good and bad) bacteria and yeasts.

The microbiome has a number of essential bodily functions, including:

• The breakdown of food preventing harmful microorganisms from proliferating within the GI tract

• Breaking down potentially harmful toxic compounds that enter the GI tract

• Breaking down more complex carbohydrates during digestion

• Synthesising certain amino acids, including B vitamins & Vitamin K

• Aiding in nutrient absorption

• Providing protection from pathogenic organisms that enter the body

• Stimulating and supporting a healthy functioning immune system

Modern science has been able to show that when the microbiome becomes imbalanced (referred to as dysbiosis), this can lead to (not a complete list):       

• Gas and bloating

• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

• Small Intestine Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO)

• Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

• Bacterial vaginosis

• Leaky gut

• Ileocecal valve disfunction

• Obesity

• Malabsorption

• Unintended weight loss/emaciation

• Constipation/Diarrhoea

• Allergic disorders

• Food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances

• Diabetes

• Chronic fatigue

• Lupus

• Anxiety and depression

• Trouble urinating

• Inflammation and aching joints

• Acne, skins rashes and psoriasis

• Some forms of cancer

• Autoimmune diseases

• As well as a host of other chronic diseases

Dysbiosis can occur through:

• Illness

• Poor diet and lifestyle choices

• Stress (acute or chronic)

• Smoking

• Alcohol

• Drugs

• Antibiotics

• Medications

• Environmental toxins

• Eating foods that are too processed, including refined sugars

• Esophagus. Stress can increase the severity and/or regularly of heartburn; lead to spasming within the esophagus; and may make swallowing foods difficult. Stress can also lead to the increase in the amount of air that is swallowed when eating, leading to excessive burps, gas and bloating.

• Stomach. Stress can cause pain, bloating, nausea, and other stomach discomfort be sensed more easily. Stress can cause also nausea, an increase or decrease in appetite, and can exacerbate the symptoms of stomach ulcers.

• Small and large Intestine. Stress can lead to alterations in gut motility, lead to gas, bloating, malabsorption of nutrients, cause spasming in the colon, dysbiosis (see above) and exacerbate existing gastrointestinal conditions (e.g. IBS, Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and peritonitis). Stress can also weaken the intestinal barrier and allow gut bacteria to enter the body. Stress can also cause constipation and diarrhoea.

NERVOUS SYSTEM
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is activated when the hypothalamus activates the flight or fight response. The SNS then signals the release of hormones called adrenalin and cortisol from the adrenal glands. These hormones, along with actions from the autonomic nerves, cause the heart rate to increase, respiration rate to increase, blood vessels in the arms and legs to dilate, digestive processes to alter and blood glucose levels to rise. These physiological changes are fine over a short period of time, but when stimulated over longer periods, will lead to a host of issues and imbalances. Research suggests that chronic stress contributes directly to high blood pressure, causes brain changes that can contribute to e.g. anxiety, depression, addictions and addictive behaviours, and promotes the formation of artery-clogging deposits within the blood vessels.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM IN MALES

• Impotence and erectile dysfunction. Chronic stress can affect testosterone production, leading to a decline in libido, and can cause erectile dysfunction and/or impotence.

• Reproduction. Chronic stress can negatively impact the levels of sperm production and maturation.

• Reproductive system diseases. Long term stress can play a direct role in the development of and the intensity of symptoms associated with reproductive diseases.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM IN FEMALES

• Menstruation. Stress can play a role in absent or irregular periods, painful periods, and changes in the cycle length.

• Pregnancy. Stress can play a significant role in infertility, the health of a pregnancy, and the adjustment period after birth, with anxiety and depression being leading conditions after the birth of a child.  Maternal stress can negatively impact fetal and ongoing childhood development and disrupt bonding with an infant.

• PMS. Stress can intensify premenstrual symptoms for many women. These can include: cramping, digestive complaints, fluid retention and bloating, negative moods, mood swings, low- self-esteem.

• Menopause. During peri-menopause, hormone levels will fluctuate rapidly, which can lead to anxiety, mood swings, and feelings of distress/dis-ease, as well as physical symptoms including hot flashes. Stress has been shown to exacerbate these.

• Reproductive system diseases. Long term stress can play a direct role in the development of and the intensity of symptoms associated with reproductive diseases.