7 Ways Your Stress Level Is Hindering Wellness

I know I’m not the first to mention to you the detrimental effects stress can have on your well-being. But sometimes I find that my clients hear it so much that this fact stops registering. Managing stress is such a hot topic these days that many of us get stressed thinking about changing our lives to manage our stress!

It’s time to really stop and evaluate your daily stress levels. Some stress is inevitable, but you have control over some of the sources. Consider the major health impacts below, and set aside time to actively reduce the stress in your life — or at least balance it with increased relaxation. Whether you opt to remove stressors or create additional time for relaxation, you’ll reap major benefits.

Negative Effects of Stress on Your Health

1. Stress can lower your immune system. Constant stress wears on your body and prevents it from existing in its naturally resilient state. Living a life of stress often means living a life of chronic illness. You may find yourself with the constant cold that never seems to go away or battling chronic fatigue.
2. Stress can affect your weight. Stress can lead to overeating, poor dietary choices, bloating and more. It can also disrupt the hormones that help keep you at a steady, healthy weight and hinder your metabolism.
3. Similar to above, stress can affect your appetite. While this can lead to weight gain if you are a stress eater, it can also lead to weight loss if your nerves zap your appetite.
4. Stress can wreak havoc on your hormones. Stress can affect more than just cortisol, the hormone that affects weight. Think estrogen, testosterone and all the important hormones that help keep your body balanced. Many of our hormones are linked, so when one is out of balance, it can lead to the imbalance of others.
5. Your heart health can suffer. It’s widely known that high levels of stress can contribute to heart disease. Persistent stress often creates high blood pressure, which can lead to strokes, cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.
6. Stress can create brain fog. When you have too much on your mind, it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep. And when you don’t get a good night’s sleep, it can be pretty hard to function the next day. You know the feeling of walking around in a haze. Have you ever stopped to think that your stress level could be the cause?
7. Too much stress can zap your happiness. Stop and think about your daily thoughts. Do you spend more time thinking about your blessings in life or all of the things you’ve got to get done on a deadline? Deadlines are inevitable, but if worrying over them monopolizes your thoughts, you should work in some time to decompress.

Balancing Stress With Relaxation

If you’re experiencing persistent high levels of stress, it’s time to consciously work to lower them. For you, this may mean creating space in your life for hobbies, bubble baths, coffee with friends or vegging with a good book. Or perhaps it’s really time to trim some of the stress out of your life. Have you volunteered for one too many positions? Perhaps you could serve as a committee member instead of the chair. Are you working too many hours? Promise yourself that once a week you will leave the office at 5 o’clock and do something that makes you smile.

There are countless ways to lower your stress level and increase your happiness. Wellness coaching can help you find the best balance in your life. Reach out today.

A nurse for more than 25 years, Karen David is a Certified Wellness Coach, Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist and board certified Focused Awareness Meditation Specialist. She brings her passion for well living and calm presence to empower others in health and wellness. Karen is CEO of Live Life Well, LLC.

This article is for informational purposes only. Practices, services or products described are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please speak with a doctor before beginning any new health regimen.