这些迹象表明你的压力已不受控制
1. You're feeling tired "Stress has a physiological effect on your body, by releasing hormones into your bloodstream that accelerate your heart rate and breathing," explains Tim. "This strain on your system can have an exhausting effect, leaving you feeling tired all the time." To top it all off, stress can also make it harder to get a decent night's kip, because it activates a part of the brain responsible for sleep-wake regulation. 2. You're eating too much... or too little, or unhealthily If there's one thing that's sure to wreak havoc with the best of intentions, it's stress. One factor is that stressed people will often be short on time, and it's easy to reach for unhealthy foods. "People who are in a stressed state in the short term may lose their appetite. This is because part of the brain called the hypothalamus produces a hormone which suppresses appetite," says Tim. "But people who are stressed for a long period of time release cortisol, which increases your appetite - especially for sweet, starchy foods. This is where the term "stress-eating" comes from." 3. You feel panicked There's another downside to these pesky stress hormones: an increased heart rate, coupled with shortness of breath, can lead to feelings of anxiety, or even a panic attack. "You may even hyperventilate as you struggle for breath," explains Tim. "Hyperventilation can usually be resolved by actively trying to slow your breathing." 4. You're getting ill easily Stress has some very real effects on our overall health, by suppressing the immune system. So, if you find you're catching colds easily, or can't shake them off, it may be because you have a reduced immune system. "When we're stressed, we release cortisol into our bloodstream, which blocks helpful hormones, so our immune system can begin to really suffer," says Tim. Never suffer in silence. Talk to your doctor to discuss options, and make sure you let your nearest and dearest know that you're struggling. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to look after yourself... |