The Mind
Study after study demonstrate the negative consequences of long-term stress on mental health. Anxiety and depression are direct results of our response to unrelenting and possibly overwhelming levels of pressure. In anxiety disorders, underlying beliefs revolve around doubting one’s coping abilities. In depression and low-self esteem, internal pressures (personal demands, ‘shoulds’ and ‘musts’) and/or external pressures (work or academic overload) often cause and maintain the problem.
The Body
Prolonged levels of stress contribute to ill health in a number of ways:
Brain: Migranes, headaches, nervous ticks, compromised concentration and problem solving abilities
Memory: Permanent damage to the hippocampus (area of the brain responsible for short-term/working memory)
Cardiovascular System: Hypertension, chest pains; links have been found between stress and the body’s inability to break down cholesterol
Digestive System: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, abdominal pain, ulcers, indigestion and diarrhoea
Reproductive System: Infertility, impotence, loss of libido, menstrual disorders
Immune System: Negative effects on body’s ability to fight bacterial and viral infections
Other: Tiredness, loss of energy, and the eventual effects of illness on relationships, work and general quality of life.
Considering the negative consequences of prolonged anxiety levels, addressing the actual causes of stress in your life is essential to your wellbeing. Tips on managing the physical and emotional responses to anxiety are also important - but obviously they won't address the root of the problem, just its symptoms. But they can help.
Stay tuned!
For more information:
http://www.pitshangervillagetherapy.com/
http://www.pitshangervillagetherapy.com/
