Stress On Your Body

[KP the nut]

OMG, please put me out of my misery now:eek:.

Backaches, headaches and muscle tension are very common and most people will suffer from one or more of these conditions during their lifetimes. Tension plays a major role in muscle spasm often associated with stress

My T has said that although I am recovering from a broken neck, torn ligaments in my right arm and shoulder and lower back pain from cuts, the pain may lessen as my bady learns to relax.

Other skin disorders, such as psoriasis,

Yes, I have psoriasis as well - bring on the steroid cream.

Other digestive problems linked with stress: oesophageal spasm, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and spastic colon, ulcerative colitis,

And add ulcerative colitis - more pills, lotions and potions

Because of the secretion of cortisol in long-term stress, fat tends to accumulate around the abdomen and back. The fat is stored in anticipation of the coming famine.

Aargh. Not helped by an underactive thyroid.

The inability to cope with stress often leads to the increased consumption of alcohol

Must cut down on bottles of wine:(

I'll stop now, can't face sexual problems :eek: and menopause.

Think I'll now go to the joke thread

 

[Phaed]

Stress and the immune system make it very hard for me to teach! I get every illness that comes through school. I take my Vitamin C, I get enough sun, I exercise, I sleep, I eat healthy and still I am sick at least once a month!
Besides the stress of working with "at risk" youth this is one of the reasons I am not going back next year. My body cannot handle it! Thank you for posting this, I feel so out of touch with my coworkers who have developed these immune systems of steal, I just cannot seem to do it.

 

[Marchesa]

Very interesting. After a series of 'minor' ailments over the past four years or so I have come to the conclusion they are linked to my stress levels but the doctors seem unwilling to make the link and there is so little on the internet t support the concept so thank you for this article.

I have had conjunctivitis, a fungal infection in my nails and sores that won't heal on my body (or take months with cortisone cream) for over four years. I broke a bone for the first time ever in my life from a gentle fall and until two years ago I was immune to everything but this reversed so I suddenly caught everything. At the same time I developed vitiliago, my existing Raynaud's (had it and managed it for years) deteriorated and my bad back became chronic with frequent muscle spasms and ticks.

A blood test showed gaps in my immune system so I had vaccines to give me respiratory immunity over a year ago but the constant illnesses did not stop. Having recently moved I pushed for a new blood test and a rather reluctant GP could not hide his surprise when they came back with a white blood cell count of 1.6.

This may account for my chronic physical/mental fatigue and generally feeling of being under par although I am lucky to have excellent medication for these symptoms so function well at times.

As I have not seen a mention of low white blood cell counts given as a symptom of PTSD and wonder if anyone else has this experience.

 

[browniegirl]

Wow - I feel semi-normal now! Before my husband and I got together 11 years ago, I was a very confident, healthy woman. Now, after 10 years of hell, I am an anxious mess with severe hypertension and an enlarged heart and my doctor can't find a reason - I know what it is - having suffered from anxiety and walking on egg shells for the past 10 plus years, my body has bitten me back - I am only 44 and I get bursitis in my hips, I started suffering from severe migraines 9 years ago, have a nerve in my neck that gets triggered alot and then the migraines start - no doctor can figure out why. I'm pretty sure that all of these things are related to have endured such high stress levels for the past 10 plus years and I'm paying the price for staying............what an idiot I've been.

 

[Marchesa]

Forgive me if I am breaking any rules in posting this, but I just came across it and thought it relevant to this thread. Entitled Even Mild Stress Can Lead to Disability, Study Says Importance of psychological distress may be underestimated, researchers suggest [DLMURL="http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/651149.html"]- http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/651149.html[/DLMURL]

 

[anthony]

I would never rely upon reading one story, or one research study, and taking its statements or results as conclusive. Stress comes and goes... media hype things for sale purposes, publications post positive results and bin often more negative findings, before obtaining a positive one to release.

Stress is bad, no issue and pretty much factual on all accounts. Saying that, if you reduce it, minimize it or remove it, the problem is not an ongoing issue unless already existing.

 

[Nicolette]

Recent media hype in Australia is about Breast Cancer. A lot of women claim to have this cancer from stress. Studies have proved that there is no conclusive evidence that it is stress related and have proven that lifestyle choices such as health, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking etc are the biggest contributing factors. The jury is out on my end as stress can cause some of the contributing factors.

I believe that continual high levels of stress manifest and display themselves as other illnesses as per the body image above. My focus needs to be managing stress so that it is not ongoing at a rate which then causes me an inability to function causing a cycle of then increased stress from not performing which then causes me more pressure and so the cycle continues.

 

[Chaz Kindred]

Through out my entire life I have been pretty much with the instinct to handle and hold my stress inside. Never to "lash out". Once my event in theater took place, now I have no problem yelling at some women cutting me off and yelling at her in front on my 3yr old son. Then like others have said the doc's say to look for alternatives for those "triggers" and avoid them. Okay doc's well seems to me like somethings like even driving on a deserted road can trigger me to feel anxiety.

One thing I do so well and I'm sure some others can attest to this as well is when some stress finds my direction, my body likes to just shut down. So what's my trigger for coping with that?

 

[babette]

Has anyone looked at supplements that help with our condition? For instance, I have developed esophogeal spasms from the stress. I did research on it on my own since all my doctors couldn't help. I found people online who said to take Magnesium. Wow! It helped about 60% on them just by taking a cheap, healthy, supplement! Sleeping better too. Back spasms and back pain went down as well.
I think I have read that some people's bodies don't hold onto certain necessary minerals as they should, which results in things like this, and that stress can "burn up" those nutrients too quickly in the body. There is not any research that I know about to support this hypothesis. But I can say it has worked for my stress-related pain without going to a Dr. and charging up bills there and the pharmacy. I wonder if Magnesium could help with other stress-related issues. The best food source besides breakfast cereals is cooked spinach. Even one cup per day could help. And it's so good for you anyway so you can try it without wondering if it's a good idea to do it anyway. It might help maintain a healthy weight and manage stress better from a nutritional standpoint. Excercise is also helpful for me, especially gentle kinds, like walking and yoga. But for this condition, online, medical sites state that just by getting talk therapy in counseling, the spasms often go into remission.

There are probably too many stress linked diseases to mention and that could be its own website! But Anthony raises such a good point. By getting help for PTSD, you might be saving some additional wear and tear on the physical body along with relationships, jobs, finances, and such. It will pay for itself in the long run.,

Hi - I have been taking Ashwagandha -- its and adaptagen for the immune system and stress relief. It is helping calm me. I also do magnesium. Both have been for a short time, but I notice it. I also do a soothing essential oil - lavendar, jasmine and let those properties work in. If I think of anything else, I'll write. Oh, maybe melatonin, too. And Bach's Rescue Remedy is worth a try.

 

[Amy Jo]

I'm pretty proud of myself. Because of stress overload, I dissociated in my nursing class which triggered emotional flashbacks...I was upset right? But for the first time in my life I went home, calmed myself, and actually DIDN'T kick myself or blame myself or hate myself or doubt myself for it or fear my sanity (if you can call it that). I said "Ok, it happens. So what, it's over. That's how I'm built adn I'm not gonna punish myself" and it hasn't really bothered me since! Im dealing I'm dealing!

 

[amethist]

Definite effect of stress on my body today.

I have just had to get an emergency app at our Dr's. Around 3 hours ago, I had sudden run to the loo attacks. I knew what it was immediately, Cystitis.

Now antibiotics in hand all will be fine in a few days.

Last few days have been a bit manic, so time to slow it right down again.
Amethist

 

[redfox]

It is kind of funny, people always tell me I look stressed out and to "relax" and things like that and I never know what they mean... this is just how I am normally!! But I do feel stressed a lot. I grind my teeth at night which is starting to affect my teeth but I don't have any dental insurance. I also have chronic stomach problems (mostly pain), I saw a doctor about these before and had some tests done but everything came back normal so he said it may be stress related. Now, if only I could get that stress level down... easier said than done!