Long-term pain does not pass without leaving a trace on the body. The consequences of mental trauma affect various levels of life. Stress causes the development of many diseases, the mental sphere suffers, and behavior changes. Mental activity and creativity decrease. Negative aspects affect different areas, sometimes the result of stress leads a person to life imbalance. How to reduce the influence of nervous experiences? Recovery from a stressful situation is necessary to return to full activity.
Adverse effects of stress
After stress, the body is affected on three levels. The consequences of a nervous experience are manifested in the following:
- physiological manifestations;
- psychological disorders;
- behavioral changes.
At the physiological level, the functioning of all organs and systems is disrupted. Prolonged experiences distort the functioning of the body, it experiences overload and fails. The most vulnerable places are the stomach, heart, skin. The cause of many diseases lies in chronic stress. In addition, sleep is disturbed, lethargy is present, and performance decreases.
What are the psychological consequences?
- After nervous experiences, the emotional sphere changes. The most severe condition is dysthymia. In this case, the person perceives the world in black terms and has suicidal thoughts. Emotional disorders also include anxiety, mood instability, inappropriate emotions and apathy.
- Against the background of stress, memory, attention, and intellectual abilities decrease. are reflected in the mental sphere, sometimes it is difficult for a person to solve simple problems and identify logical chains.
- Decreased self-esteem, lack of self-confidence. Chronic stress undermines confidence, a person underestimates his capabilities and does not believe in himself. It is difficult to restore the desired level of self-esteem after stress.
- Increased conflict and irritability. Even minor circumstances drive you crazy.
In the background nervous stress behavior changes. A person avoids communication or refuses it, eating behavior and interests change. There are destructive ones - smoking, alcohol, use of toxic substances.
Diseases after stress
Over a long period of time, this is the main factor for the appearance various diseases. The body is weakened and becomes easily susceptible to disease. The most common diseases are:
- cardiovascular;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- diseases associated with decreased immunity.
Stress aggravates existing diseases. Doctors note that after suffering severe nervous tension, chronic diseases worsen and susceptibility to infections increases. The body becomes more prone to injury.
Sometimes treatment of diseases must be accompanied by a consultation with a psychotherapist, since medications show a short-term effect.
In some cases, the disease goes away on its own after the stress factor is reduced.
How to alleviate the condition and get out of chronic experiences with minimal losses? Is there a cure for stress? Let's look at several ways. What will help restore the feeling of joy?
Sedatives
Anti-anxiety medications help relieve the physiological and emotional effects of stress. Treatment strong sedatives only a doctor prescribes based on the general picture of the disease and the person’s condition. You can independently use products with natural herbal ingredients.
List of natural sedatives:
- Chamomile. This herb relieves mild nervousness, irritability, and restores the body after the worries of the day.
- Melissa. Remedies with this herb have a good effect on sleep processes and calm you down after a nervous day.
- Valerian. The most famous remedy with a minimum of side effects. This herb is considered an antidepressant of plant origin, and the body tolerates it well.
- Passionflower. Insomnia, overwork, . Passionflower gently soothes and allows you to cope with the consequences of emotional distress.
It is advisable to discuss stronger drugs with your doctor, as they have contraindications. Self-treatment does not always give results and can be harmful. Anti-stress medications include:
- Afobazole;
- Phenibut;
- Phenazipam;
- Persen;
- Adaptol;
- Novopassit.
Psychotherapy
For chronic stress, it is advisable to use the help of a psychotherapist. What is included in psychotherapy treatment?
- Gestalt therapy. The body is weakened after nervous experiences; during therapy, the patient is helped to concentrate on all aspects of his condition. Stress leaves a mark on a person - muscle tension, posture, facial expressions, and gait change. In the process of work, a person becomes aware of himself and changes.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy. As a result of work, a person changes his attitude towards the problem, looks for an alternative and consolidates the new state in everyday life.
How to restore yourself after mental trauma? Try it simple recommendations- dream, physical exercise, warm bath. The body is restored, the nervous system returns to normal.
It is important to improve your diet using healthy foods. Yoga and communication with animals will help restore balance.
It is worth giving up substitutes - this is sitting near the computer or TV. Be sure to give up alcohol and smoking.
Video: Psychologist Olga Kostenko “Mental traumas: forget or cure.”
Long-term exposure to factors environment on a person’s psycho-emotional state, invariably causes a response from the body, which is called stress. Stress always tends to disrupt homeostasis – optimal mutual cooperation various systems and organs, as well as the interaction of these systems with the outside world, through the nervous system.
Under the influence of negative factors, the body, trying to protect itself from them, includes various compensatory mechanisms in which the central nervous system and immunity play the main role. Accordingly, these two vital systems of a living organism are hit first, which is associated with excess load on them and depletion of energy reserves. Of course, when malfunctions occur in the field of these vital components of the body, the remaining systems suffer, to varying degrees, expressing their pathological state in the dynamics of clinical signs.
Main symptoms as a reflection of stress
The overall clinical picture of stressors as a result of their impact on the body is divided into four main categories: cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral consequences, which arise due to dysfunctions in the central nervous system and immunity. It is worth considering that most clinical signs of biological disorders, for example, symptoms of colds, digestive system disorders, and the like, do not represent the basis of a truly existing disease. This phenomenon occurs due to erroneous physiological reactions of the immune system, due to its severe overload.
Cognitive effects of stress
- Memory impairment. This phenomenon is characteristic of short-term memory. Under stress, amnestic manifestations never affect permanent memory, but a person may tend to forget information from the last few hours. Characteristic feature is the loss from memory of information related to numbers and mathematical calculations - telephone numbers, simple calculation formulas that the patient often used in everyday life and so on.
- Loss of concentration and attention, inability to even briefly concentrate on any type of activity, especially one that requires increased attention.
- Shortsightedness. A phenomenon associated with a decrease in the activity of the same brain elements that are responsible for storing short-term information. In order to make an objective and error-free decision, it is necessary to include in the process of comprehension some significant practical experience, information about which is stored in short-term memory.
- Chronic pessimism and nihilism. A person is inclined to refuse any innovations or changes in his activities, including work. Any activity or proposal is always negative and will not bring any benefit in the future. Almost everything around the patient loses meaning.
- Anxious state. Stress, especially chronic stress, based on specific factors that the patient is fully aware of and understands their essence, can cause looping in thinking and result in persistent emotional experiences. Initially, a person will try with all his might to avoid potential irritants, and subsequently, sources of experienced or actual stress will begin to cause a feeling of fear. Therefore, very often, a characteristic consequence of stress is the development of various phobias.
- Constant worry is very typical of chronic stress. Even if at some point it is possible for the patient to occupy his thinking with positive emotions, this phenomenon will be very short-lived.
Emotional Consequences
- Moodiness.
- Increased irritability and temper, often turning into overt aggression.
- A complete lack of incentives for emotional and cognitive relaxation. During chronic stress, such conditions often lead to the development of quite serious psycho-emotional overloads with the transition to mental disorders, more often of a depressive nature.
- A constant feeling of increased fatigue even from minor intellectual or physical labor.
- Feeling of social loneliness, development of an inferiority complex.
- The sustainable development of depressive syndrome with all the ensuing consequences is a psychopathological condition.
Physical consequences
- Pain of various origins, radiating throughout almost the entire body and not emphasizing the symptoms of any specific disease. More often painful sensations occur in the area of the heart, behind the sternum, and womb. Women often experience dysmenorrhea - menstrual pain.
- Diarrhea or constipation. The regulation of responses during a stressful state occurs through the central nervous system, and the autonomic nervous system - its sympathetic and parasympathetic trunks - acts as an intermediary on the way to the executive systems. A wide range of disorders of nervous activity leads to autonomic failures, which, first of all, affect the activity complex systems, including digestive.
- Increased frequency of urination, against the background of small volumes of urine excreted, organoleptic indicators which are characterized dark color and a stagnant odor.
- Stomach disorders, which manifest themselves in the form of retention of contents, pain in the epigastric region, belching, heartburn, nausea. For people suffering from gastritis and stomach ulcers and duodenum, characterized by increased symptoms of these pathologies.
- An increase in blood glucose levels is associated with disturbances in the production of insulin. Physiologically increased concentrations of free glucose in the blood lead to toxic reactions that increase general symptoms. The presence of diabetes mellitus in the patient's medical history can lead to serious reactions, including loss of consciousness.
- Disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system in the form of increased or decreased blood pressure, increased or decreased heart rate, arrhythmia, extrasystole. This range of clinical manifestations is also associated with autonomic dysfunctions in the regulation of physiological processes. The lack of normal regulation often leads to loss of consciousness from incorrect redistribution of blood in the brain, especially against the background of low blood pressure. The opposite pathological effect can be a hypertensive crisis and, as a result, strokes or heart attacks.
- Loss of sexual desire, decreased libido.
- High resistance to infectious pathologies, especially respiratory ones. A characteristic feature of chronic stress is a constant runny nose, cough and respiratory problems.
- Women are often characterized by menstrual irregularities in the form of long delays, pain, and so on.
Behavioral Consequences
- Appetite disorders. Acute stress, as a rule, is characterized by an increase in appetite; with prolonged exposure to stress factors, a gradual decrease is observed, and then a complete loss of appetite is possible.
- Sleep disorders. There is also a dependence on the time of exposure to stress factors - in early period stress, sleepiness is usually increased and then decreased. With chronic exposure to stress factors, the patient is characterized by constant lack of sleep, which greatly affects his behavior and appearance.
- Social isolation.
- Neglecting your responsibilities and lowering your level hygiene requirements to your address.
- Manifestation of nicotine, alcohol and drug addictions in attempts to reduce the severe perception of stress factors.
- The emergence of bad habits, for example, biting nails, scratching, and so on. Many men are characterized by regular masturbation.
General adaptation stress syndrome
The body always strives to eliminate stress factors through a psycho-emotional response. If this is not possible, the central nervous system triggers defense mechanisms that seek to adapt the body to a stressful environment by regulating homeostasis. Hans Selye, studying stress and its nature of impact, defined the concept of general adaptation syndrome (GAS), which clearly demonstrates the consequences of stress on the body as a whole.
GAS is characterized by three phases, occurring sequentially one from the other:
Excitation phase, characterized by increased activity sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, is divided, in turn, into two subphases:
- Shock. During the period of shock, a decrease in the volume of circulating blood occurs, against the background of a general decrease in sodium, chlorine and glucose in the plasma. This condition resembles the symptoms of Addison's disease. At this stage, there is an “awareness” of the stress factor and an assessment of its harmful status.
- Antishock. When the threat of a stress factor is fully assessed, the nervous system leads the body into general condition, which can be characterized as alarming. During this period, the activity of the locus coeruleus in the brain is activated, which begins to stimulate the production of norepinephrine and adrenaline, while the sympathetic trunk of the autonomic nervous system comes into a state of excitement: the heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, breathing increases, the work of the digestive system is suppressed, tone increases skeletal muscles, the concentration of cortisol and glucose in the blood plasma increases. Thinking is at the stage of making a strategically correct decision - “fight or flight.”
The resistance phase is the next stage in the development of the general adaptation syndrome, where hormonal status plays a dominant role. Level up nutrients blood for cells such as: glucose, lipids, proteins. The level of immune reactions decreases, which is especially clearly visible on the leukocyte formula: a decrease in the level of lymphocytes, eosinophils and an increase in the level of neutrophils. Cortisol puts the body into a state of active readiness, bringing it to the peak of resistance, which quickly leads to depletion of physical energy reserves.
Recovery or exhaustion phase:
- The recovery path indicates that the body has successfully overcome or eliminated stress factors. Increased level glucose and other nutrients have a beneficial effect on anabolic reactions, which are aimed at restoring homeostasis and cell regeneration.
- at the moment of depletion of all energy resources of the body, the nervous system is no longer able to maintain physiological functions. In addition, the body's immune system is seriously damaged.
If the exhaustion stage is prolonged, it will lead to long-term pathological changes that are often irreversible and increase the risk of serious mental and biological disorders - peptic ulcer stomach, diabetes mellitus, chronic heart failure, phobias, generalized anxiety, depression. In rare cases, the occurrence of schizophrenic syndromes is noted.
During the high speed of life and constant lack of time, a person experiences psychological discomfort. Under the influence of prolonged nervous conditions, the body ceases to independently cope with its consequences, and harm is caused to health. There is even such a science (psychosomatics), which indicates the relationship between the state of the soul and the body. But not everyone is able to understand what stress leads to.
Nervous tension causes serious damage to health
How stress affects the body
The consequences of stress depend on the strength and duration of the nervous state. The stronger and longer this condition lasts, the more harm it will cause to the body.
Stress and its consequences can lead to serious illnesses: possible addiction to alcohol, use of psychosomatic drugs.
Brain activity is affected:
- The functioning of short-term memory is impaired. Basically, the data that a person uses every day is forgotten.
- The ability to concentrate on a specific event or action is lost. Work that requires special concentration becomes impossible.
- Shortsightedness. A person cannot make decisions, because short-term memory is responsible for the ability to objectively assess the current situation, the activity of which in this situation is reduced to a minimum.
Emotional state: frequent moodiness, irritability, short temper, aggression are possible. The individual refuses to make any changes in his own life.
Stress affects the general condition of the human body:
- various pains;
- bowel dysfunction;
- frequent urination;
- disruptions in the functioning of the stomach: nausea, vomiting, belching, heartburn;
- lack of sexual desire;
- inability of the body to fight infections: acute respiratory diseases, the respiratory system suffers;
- disruptions in the menstrual cycle: delays, increased hemorrhage, pain.
The consequences of stress are reflected in the work of all internal human organs. Problems with the cardiovascular system arise: changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, arrhythmia, loss of consciousness, and heart attack are possible.
Habitual norms of behavior change:
- loss of appetite;
- drowsiness, lack of sleep, insomnia appear;
- a person becomes characterized by isolation and reluctance to come into contact with people;
- failure to fulfill responsibilities in the family and at work, unkempt appearance;
- addiction to addictions: alcohol, tobacco, drugs;
- the appearance of bad habits: scratching, biting nails.
Consequences of stress at work
Many areas professional activity require high stress resistance. But not every person has this quality. Many are exposed to frequent stress in their work environment, which leads to critical consequences. The person is in nervous tension, feels nervous and anxious. All this affects not only the quality of performance of professional duties, but also the general condition of the body:
- lack of self-confidence and strength;
- the feeling of satisfaction with the profession disappears;
- possible absenteeism from work;
- low labor activity.
Scientists have revealed the fact that occupational stress provokes the development of ailments such as strokes, muscle pain, changes in blood pressure, heart problems, and weak immunity.
The negative consequences of such stress often lead to emotional and physical exhaustion, violence against loved ones, depression, and even suicide.
Phases of emotional burnout
Effects of stress during pregnancy
Due to stress they are greatly reduced protective forces body. Exposure to frequent nervous conditions makes the body defenseless against various infections. Such diseases have a negative impact on a woman’s general well-being, and most importantly, they pose a threat to the fetus.
Due to hormonal changes in the body, expectant mothers are extremely sensitive to external stimuli. Here are some examples of the dangers of stress for the body of the expectant mother and her fetus:
- chronic depressive conditions;
- onset of premature labor;
- threat of miscarriage;
- an unborn child is at risk of developing chronic diseases;
- deviations in the mental and physical development of the baby after birth;
- underweight of the fetus.
The impact of stress on relationships with others
The consequences of stress lead to psycho-emotional changes in the body and become the main factor in disrupting relationships with others. There is a reluctance to maintain old relationships. For this reason, the circle of contacts is often significantly narrowed.
A person becomes more conflicted, he is characterized by causeless anger and negative emotions, which negatively affects his interaction with society.
The result of this is the loss of a significant part of the social circle and increased post-stress reactions.
The impact of stress on family relationships
The consequences of psycho-emotional stress have an extremely negative impact on communication between relatives. No matter which spouse was stressed, the entire family is going through some hardship. This may affect the following aspects of your personal life:
- communication - causeless aggression, short temper, irritability, desire for conflicts;
- intimate life - reluctance to fulfill marital obligations;
- material side - problems at work are possible, including loss of work.
Family vitality
Effects of traumatic stress
Traumatic stress leads to depression, causes various phobias and neuroses, and becomes the cause of anxiety disorders. At this moment the person needs outside intervention. Failure to provide assistance on time leads to serious complications that can throw him off balance.
As a result of such stress, the general mental state is unstable. Gaps in memory are often observed - a person exposed to stress subconsciously crosses out events that remind him of the shock he experienced. Indifference, hostility and insensitivity appear. The desire for change disappears. There is a dulling of emotions and withdrawal from society.
A person ceases to live fully. If he is not helped in time, he becomes a completely different person. Absent-mindedness, excessive suspicion, irritation and even hostility may appear.
It has been proven that stress negatively affects the general condition of the body. It leads to depression, phobias and other psychological diseases. Scientists are inclined to believe that stress is also a cause of cancer.
The consequences of nervous experiences bring enormous negative changes. It’s worth thinking about how to reduce the impact of stress on the body, or better yet, not let it into your life at all. It is much easier to avoid negative emotions than to deal with their consequences.
A little nervous excitement has a beneficial effect on a person. But severe stress triggers a mechanism of destruction, in which all systems of the body suffer, immunity decreases, and the emotional background fades.
From the strongest impact on a person, the body’s protective abilities are exacerbated. It is their inclusion that provokes a stressful state. In psychology there is a special stress scale that contains standard traumatic conditions. In the first place is the death of relatives and friends. In last place - promotion at work, wedding. Positive emotions can also make you worry.
Causes of nervous stress
Understanding the reasons makes it possible to quickly figure out how to deal with stress. Strong psychological stress arises due to separation from relatives, for example, as a result of death. This situation has a quick, severe effect on nervous system person.
The causes of a stressful situation are: external, internal.
Any experience can cause stress to the body. External reasons include a change in the usual environment, a plane flight, moving to a permanent place of residence in another country, leaving a usual place of work.
Stress is the body's reaction to possible danger. Adrenaline and cortisol increase alertness, heart rate, and blood flow to the muscles. In an ideal world, the body reacts to danger and then returns to a calm state. But when stress becomes chronic, serious problems with health.
Sleep is disturbed
Psychiatrists from the leading medical universities of Chicago and Pittsburgh spent nine years observing middle-aged women under stress of varying severity. Women with high level under stress, they complained of intermittent, shallow sleep, and in most cases suffered from insomnia. US National Institutes of Health: Chronic sleep problems can negatively affect heart function, memory, develop diabetes and contribute to excess weight gain.
I'm constantly hungry
When under stress, food is perceived as a comfort. The production of the satiety hormone leptin and the hunger hormone ghrelin is disrupted, so overeating most often becomes side effect. According to the results of leading nutritionists in Boston, nervous tension And bad dream predetermine food choice: low amount of protein, high fat, lack of vegetables and fruits, frequent high-calorie snacks in the evening and at night. All this inevitably leads to excess weight gain.
Skin problems develop
The skin can also suffer from stress. Scientists from the University of California conducted and identified a relationship between emotional health and skin condition. Stress can cause acne, psoriasis, eczema or make the symptoms of these diseases more obvious. The more severe the degree of disorder, the more acutely the form of the skin disease is expressed, and on this basis may appear psychological problems: decreased self-esteem, depression or social phobia. Doctors at the Oxford University Hospital say that stress also significantly slows down the healing process of wounds.
Heart disease occurs
Due to stressful situations, adrenaline levels increase. As a result, blood pressure rises and heart rate increases. A person can feel sharp pain in the chest, have difficulty breathing - these symptoms are related to broken heart syndrome. It is similar to a heart attack, but is less life-threatening. Until now, scientists have not identified a direct connection between chronic stress and the occurrence of heart disease. However, leading American people also recommend stopping smoking and drinking alcohol. These habits do not help cope with anxiety, but only increase the risk possible complications. Doctors advise making a choice in favor proper nutrition and regular exercise and yoga.
Increased risk of catching a cold
Surely you have noticed that nervous periods of life are often accompanied by a cold. University specialists at medical center Maryland this phenomenon is like this: regular excess cortisol weakens immune system, which makes it difficult for the body to fight viruses. At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, healthy people who complained of varying levels of stress were infected with rhinoviruses. Volunteers whose nervous condition was more severe actually got sick, unlike people with a low level of stress.
Depression occurs
Harvard Medical School published a study that concluded that stress suppresses the growth of new nerve cells in the hippocampus. According to studies, in people prone to depression, this part of the brain is 9-13% smaller. This directly affects the state of depression. The National Institute of Health in the USA believes that depression occurs entirely due to... various reasons However, stress is one of the risk factors.
Digestive problems appear
Many people are familiar with the feeling of nausea before an important event - stress affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and manifests itself in different ways. University of Maryland Medical Center Specialists