Life presents many stresses, from the effects of the pandemic to worries about finances. The American Institute of Stress estimates that 55% of adults feel stressed during the day.

We are also not great at “active recovery”, which means engaging in intentionally relaxing activities and ensuring we get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Furthermore, certain people are more prone to stress. For example, those who tend to isolate more or who have experienced childhood trauma are prone to feeling very stressed.

‍How the Body Manifests Stress

If you experience chronic stress, your body is likely manifesting it. You can tell you have a “stress bod” if you suffer from the following symptoms:

• Fatigued for most of the day and unmotivated to do physical activity
• Achy, tired muscles
• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
•  Frequently sick
• Gastrointestinal issues like bloating and stomach aches
• Difficulty losing weight, especially around the middle
• Low sex drive

Chronic stress has a profound effect on every bodily system. For example, stress causes:

• Elevated cortisol (stress hormone) levels, resulting in chronic fatigue, feelings of depression, sluggish metabolism, compromised immune system
• Increased pressure on the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk for hypertension and heart disease
• Increased gut inflammation, leading to gastrointestinal symptoms, lowered energy and immunity
• Decreased sex drive hormones
• Increased hunger hormones and decreased satiety hormones, contributing to weight gain
• Increased sympathetic nervous system (“flight or fight”) activity, causing difficulty sleeping and relaxing

 Steps To Take To Reduce Stress

The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to address the stress bod. They are:

1. Talking to your doctor to rule out other health issues like anemia or low vitamin D levels
2. Looking for hidden stressors like high caffeine intake or food intolerances
3. Logging your stressors and symptoms throughout the day
4. Taking steps to reduce stress by, for example, talking to a therapist or friend or setting boundaries
5. Finding 5 active stress relievers, for example deep breathing, yoga, walking outside or spending time with friends
6. Giving yourself a break and making small, easy changes to lower stress levels

 Here is a downloadable, printable guide to help you address your stressors:

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍