Stress just seems like a normal part of our daily lives for a lot of us. When you are trying to juggle a busy work life with a family, you’re going to get stressed, but it’s important that you don’t just accept it. We all feel stressed out from time to time, but if you’re constantly under a lot of pressure, it can do some serious damage to your health. A lot of people don’t realize just how dangerous stress can be and they just let it build up without doing anything about it. 

If you live a very stressful lifestyle and you always feel like things are piling up on top of you, it’s important that you find ways to deal with it. If you don’t, you’re at risk of these potential health problems. 

Mental Health Issues 

A lot of mental health issues like depression and anxiety have their roots in stress. There is usually an underlying problem that needs to be dealt with, but extreme stress levels can quickly develop into more serious mental health conditions if you do not learn to deal with it properly. Stress at work is a very common cause, so it’s important that you take time off when you can and try not to bring your work home with you. Having time to yourself is so important and sometimes, you need to prioritize self care over work. 

Addiction Problems 

Addiction problems are often tied to stress and mental health issues. When people are under a lot of pressure, they may use alcohol as a way to relax and de-stress. The problem is, it’s easy to become reliant on it and that’s when you may have issues with addiction. If you feel that it might already be a problem for you, you should look into sober living homes so you can remove yourself from that situation and try to beat your addiction. Having the support of others and being in a sober environment is the best way to get it under control. 

Obesity 

Obesity is a huge health problem and levels of obesity are growing. There are a lot of contributing factors, but stress could make the problem worse. When you are very stressed, your body releases more cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Cortisol has a lot of effects on the body and one of them is increased fat around the belly area. It also increases your cravings for sugary and fatty foods. Obviously, your diet is important but if you are gaining weight and you haven’t changed what you’re eating, it could be down to stress. 

Headaches 

We all get headaches from time to time, but if you’re experiencing them a lot and they’re particularly bad, it can get quite difficult to live with. There are a lot of causes of headaches and if you are having a lot, it’s a good idea to see a doctor to make sure that there is nothing wrong. Most of the time, it will just be down to stress, which is a leading cause of headaches, especially tension headaches. 

People don’t always realize just how dangerous stress can be but if you’re experiencing any of these health problems, it could be down to stress. 

So take some time for yourself today and go sit by the ocean, get a pedicure or do something for you.  Pedicures with my #1 girl are my favorite way to destress!