We all have to deal with stressful everyday situations whether we like it or not. It affects us all in a bigger or minor way. Traffic, work, disciplining children, coping with finances or a complicated relationship with the people you care about… These are all parts of everyday life and we all have to endure them. Even though we are perfectly capable of coping with small amounts of stress – it is actually good for us – exaggerated and repeating stressful situations may result in both physical and mental disorders. A number of health problems are linked to stress, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, hypertension, stroke, heart attack, etc. Furthermore, it may cause misbalance to the immune system which could lead to a number of infections, ranging from a common cold to rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Another serious circumstance of living a stressful life is Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms of stress are numerous and many of them may even be symptoms of other diseases. Frequent headaches, stuttering or mumbling speech, tremors, grinding teeth, faintness, dizziness, cold and sweaty hands, nausea, flatulence, constipation or diarrhea, panic attacks, fatigue, rapid pulse, excessive nervousness and worrying, frustration, anger, weight gain or loss, compulsive behavior, confusion and disorganization, nightmares, difficulties with concentration and learning and all sorts of pains (headache, neck ache, pain ache, stomach ache, muscle spasms…), etc.
Other than having a terrible influence on our health, stress also has a negative effect on our skin, hair, nails and looks in general.
Under-eye bags
With insomnia, nightmares, nervousness and similar being some of the symptoms of stress, we lack sleep hour we need to function normally. This leads to under-eye bags appearing. To prevent them from appearing, try to relax by making some tea before lying to bed and try gaining 8 hours of sleep. Another trick to get rid of under-eye bags is to massage the under-eye area with a chilled spoon after putting it in a fridge for about 10 minutes. This will help in concealing the puffiness.
Acne
Stress releases cortisol, which could possibly lead to misbalancing other hormones, so skin disorders such as eczema, acne or psoriasis appear. Breathing exercises come in handy when it comes to getting rid of blemishes. Take a long breath and hold it in for a few seconds before exhaling through the mouth. This help with anxiety too. Also, drink enough water and have a healthy diet. Also, trying meditation is a good idea.
Grey hair
Stress may lead to the melanin lack, which means your hair will turn grey. Vitamin B and shampoos rich in protein will make your hair strong and fight premature aging.
Deep groves in nails
The vertical lines on our nails are quite common and harmless. They signify aging and lack of certain vitamins. On the other hand, horizontal lines are a sign that the body is fighting serious stress and possibly indicate some serious complications occurring inside your body. If you see them, consult with your doctor as soon as possible. In the meantime, do your best trying to relax and zen out.
Nessie L.B.