The Effects of Stress on Your Emotions
Chronic stress is linked to both depression and anxiety. It can be said that depression is thoughts about the past, while anxiety is thoughts about the future. In either case, anxiety disorders are the number one health problem in the United States.
Remember our ABC model? In that model, Activating events, when acted upon by our Beliefs, became Consequences. In the case of anxiety disorders, the Activating events really don’t play a significant role. Yes, you may think Activating events play a major role in your depression or anxiety, in reality, when you look at those events in the light of day, they really don’t cause the Consequences you’re feeling. In truth, it’s your Beliefs that are the cause. Anxious thoughts bring about physiological responses that in turn cause more anxious thoughts, and so on. They cycle goes out of control.
Chronic stress, even without an anxiety disorder, can manifest itself as irritability and impatience. Related emotions include sadness and apathy. Over time, someone with chronic stress may not even notice that they’re stressed. But they are.
Chronic stress can eventually cause violence or suicide, heart attack, stroke, or perhaps even cancer. Chronic stress can wear you down, both physically and emotionally, so that you have no resistance to any new stress. Long term symptoms are difficult to treat and may require extensive medical as well as behavioral treatment.
Let’s check out the impact to your health in a little more detail before moving on to determining your level of stress.
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Effects of Stress on Your Health
If you live with a great deal of stress, the long term effect on your body could be disastrous.
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Effects of Stress on Your Mind
With chronic stress, your thinking processes can be affected.
Other Steps in this Section:
The effects of stress to our society are staggering.
Effects of Stress on Your Body
If you live with a great deal of stress, the long term effect on your body could be disastrous.
