Stress and Anxiety-It’s Not Just In Your Head
What Can You Do About Stress and Anxiety-San Diego, California
Our society today is filled with stressors. From deadlines to parenting to the state of the economy, we have more stress than ever before. More Americans suffer from stress and anxiety than any other mental health disorder. Stress can be a challenge we try to absorb mentally, but what is stress doing to your body? Can it affect you more than you think? The team at Advanced Functional Medicine is here to explain what stress is, how it affects your brain, and perhaps most importantly, how stress can affect your body and physical health.
What is Stress?
What do we mean when we talk about stress and anxiety?
- Stress
Anything that causes you to have to panic, work harder, or move faster is known as stress. Stress can be episodic, acute, or chronic. Some stressors may include:
- Time Stress
This type of stress relates to a deadline or other time constraint. - Situational Stress
This refers to stress related to a specific event, such as an accident, emergency, or unexpected expense. - Anticipatory Stress
An event in the future may induce stress. - Encounter Stress
The stress of a challenging work or family relationship can be difficult.
Anxiety Symptoms
What is the difference between stress and anxiety? Anxiety can be a stress reaction. However, anxiety can also occur when there is no current or existing stress. Anxiety can endure far past the circumstance that has caused the stress. If this anxiety continues, it can lead to physical health concerns. Some symptoms of stress include headaches, sleep loss, high blood pressure, irritability, unhappiness, loneliness, tension, and nausea.
Can Stress Make You Sick?
What happens between stress and anxiety to cause bodily symptoms? Here are some examples of stress manifesting itself into anxiety.
- Digestive
An early symptom of stress and anxiety is the presence of gastrointestinal issues. If you’ve ever been nervous before a big event or deadline, you will understand the connection between stress and digestive issues. But it doesn’t stop at tummy gurgles. Studies have shown that stress actually disrupts and changes the stomach’s microbiome. Stress can cause diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and indigestion. - Compromised Immune System
Did you know that stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your immune system? When you are in a state of stress or anxiety, your body alters the ways it produces hormones. This causes the immune system’s hormones to attack healthy cells, making your body more susceptible to illness. This effect can also slow recovery from illnesses. - Sleep Issues
Stress is a natural sleep disruptor. When we have chaotic thoughts, it can be challenging to sleep. Lack of sleep can be damaging to the body, and it can - Heart Disease and Stroke
Stress and anxiety can cause extensive damage to the cardiovascular system. When stress or anxiety occurs, blood pressure may increase. Additionally, during stressful conditions, the heart pumps harder to increase blood flow to the body. Over time, this can create permanent damage to the heart.
How to Calm Anxiety
It is essential to try to calm anxiety before it has lasting effects on the body. Some essential ways to calm anxiety include:
- Deep breathing
- Meeting with a Licensed Mental Health Specialist
- Maintaining a Healthy Diet
- Practicing Mindfulness
- Getting Enough Exercise
- Getting Enough Sleep
- Yoga
- Understanding that some things are beyond our control
Conclusion
Calming anxiety and stress is essential to avoiding the effects of stress on the body. Meeting with a functional medicine practitioner can help.
Advanced Functional Medicine
When you are seeking the best way to treat anxiety, look to Advanced Functional Medicine. The premier resource for functional medicine in the San Diego area, we focus on all-natural, nutritional, and functional ways to heal the body from the inside out. We look beyond your current symptoms to analyze your family history, medical history, environmental factors, and more as we create a plan of action to provide the best treatment tailored to your needs. Visit our website to learn more about our services. We practice a practical and effective approach to healthcare to keep our patients happy and healthy.