Excess baggage: How strongly does stress affect our bodies?

We have been living in a state of stress for more than a month. Of course, this affected not only the mental state, but also the physical one. But how exactly – we’re dealing with doctors – is a therapist and psychologist from the DocMed evidence-based medicine clinic.

What is stress?

“Stress is a set of nonspecific reactions of the body to the influence of various negative factors of stress factors (physical or psychological), consisting of a change in metabolism. Stress as a physiological response is characteristic of any living organism; psycho-emotional stress is also characteristic of a person.

By the nature of the effect, you should understand that stress is a protective response to neuropsychiatric stress, hunger stress, insomnia stress, other physical factors (excessive loud noise, bright light and other types of radiation, heat, cold, etc.), as a result of which the body quickly adapts to rational functioning in new conditions. must be. Physiological stress was first described by Hans Selye as a general adaptation syndrome. But if stress factor prolonged or very strong, may occur disruptions in the body“- says therapist Olga Klochkova at the DocMed clinic.

“Long-term stress is a prolonged tension when the body’s adaptive mechanisms remain on for a long time. This leads to both psycho-emotional and physical fatigue,” adds Olga Viktorova, psychologist at DocDeti and DocMed.

How does stress affect the body? Spoiler: very different

Olga Klochkova, therapist at the DocMed clinic

The effect of long-term stress on the body varies from person to person. Any organ and system can suffer. Functional disorders appear, which are manifested by unexplained weakness, fatigue, mood and sleep disorders, skin dysfunctions: acne occurs more often, exacerbation of dermatitis, psoriasis and other chronic skin diseases, more frequent recurrences of herpes infection, stress may be hair loss. Violation of the function of the cardiovascular system: tingling in the heart area, heaviness in the chest, palpitations, feeling of pulsation in the head and neck, hot flushes in the body or in the extremities; feeling of difficulty breathing, lack of air; various gastrointestinal disorders: loss of appetite or vice versa, constant desire to do something, “eating stress”, abdominal pain, belching, heartburn, constipation or frequent stools may appear; There may be increased urination. Often there are nervous twitches – tics, headaches, muscle pain. Prolonged stress can increase the risk of diabetes, increase blood pressure, acute stomach ulcers occur against the background of stress, and the risk of heart attack and stroke increases.

The psychological response to stress is different, it depends on a number of reasons, first of all, the initial level of a person’s stress resistance, the strength and duration of the stressful situation. These may be the functional disorders described above, they may develop. panic attack syndrome or another anxiety disorder, a depressive disorder and other mental disorders, then the help of a psychotherapist and psychologist is needed.

Olga Viktorova, DocDeti and DocMed psychologist

The nervous system reacts to stress by taking action first to cope with the situation that has arisen. If this mobilization is prolonged and the state of tension persists for a long time, the resource is exhausted; There may also be anxiety, depressive states, loss of appetite, sleepiness, a tendency to various types of risk or addiction as ways to avoid unpleasant feelings and experiences.

An important role is played not by the external stressor itself (the stressor), but by the features of its perception by a particular person. Therefore, it becomes very important here psychological flexibility and awareness developmentIt allows us to come out of the stress response.

how to deal with stress

Olga Klochkova: “There are general principles for dealing with stress. If we cannot change the situation, we must try to accept our attitude towards it, our feelings and emotions, remembering that different people deal with stress in different ways. To help cope with chronic stress, it is useful to find time for physical education and sports, walking, traveling, socializing in a pleasant environment for you, hobbies, needlework, going to the theater, cinema, exhibitions. and concerts, spas can help with relaxation and massages.

It is not worth living in an information vacuum, but it is still necessary to limit the flow of negative information, especially from dubious sources. There are autogenic training, meditation practices, breathing exercises.

Managing chronic stress on your own can be overwhelming. Specialists always come to the rescue: a psychologist and a psychotherapist. For some, speech aid applications are sufficient, for others pharmacological support is needed.

Participation in conflicts, sexual violence, abuse, threat of death, serious physical injury, serious health impairment and disability, etc. Post-traumatic stress disorder may occur as a result of single or repetitive stressful, psychotraumatic situations such as A serious mental condition is treated by psychiatrists.

When a person is stressed, there is usually a temptation to take a magic pill, and then counselors-acquaintances, the Internet and previous own experiences immediately appear. You should not start medication on your own. Treatment is always prescribed by a doctor. If a person has complaints that he associates with a stressful situation, the question always arises, which doctor should I go to: a neurologist, an endocrinologist, a cardiologist, maybe a psychiatrist right away?

I recommend seeing a therapist first.this doctor will provide the necessary examination and the most appropriate referral, that is, he will tell you which treatments and medicines are suitable for your case, as well as which doctors it is desirable to visit.

When should you go to the doctor?

Olga Viktorova: “An indicator is a long-term negative emotional background: apathy, anxiety, increased aggression. feeling tired all the time; sleep disturbance, appetite; interest and pleasure in life diminished.