We all have felt stressed and/or anxious in our lifetime. Right? It is a very normal response to different experiences. However, have you ever thought how the stress actually impacts your body? Sure, we feel it, but we can't see what it actually does in our bodies. Here are some things that happen to your body when you are stressed.
1. Your cravings get OUT OF CONTROL.
When I am stressed, I tend to grab for Sour Patch or some sort of chocolate covered candy. This happens because there is a hormone in your body called Cortisol, or the stress hormone, which is responsible for cravings involving sugar and fat. Increased levels of cortisol make your cravings kick in which can lead to tremendous weight gain. Nutritional biochemist, Shawn M. Talbott ,
2. Your immune system rebels against you.
Have you noticed that you get sick once you are under stress? I usually break out in a terrible cold that makes me feeling like absolute crap for a few days. This is because the immune system is seen as the body's defense system. When stress is brought into this defense system, it weakens cells and tissues that fight off harmful substances in the body. Therefore, you are more apt to experience cold-like symptoms when under stress. According to Dr. Mary Meagher , “people exposed to chronic social conflict experience high levels of stress and consequent dysregulation of the immune system, thereby increasing vulnerability to infectious and autoimmune disease."'
3. Your brain shrinks. ![]()
What?! Apparently, yes! Recently there has been research from Yale University proving that stress makes your brain shrink because the amount of grey matter in the brain decreases after a while. Stress basically tells the brain "Hey, stop communicating between each other!" which reduces the amount of synapses produced in the brain. Crazy, right?!
4. Acne. Acne. Acne.
Goodbye perfect skin. Hello new friends on my face! Stress can cause breakouts to occur because the body has cells that produce sebum (oily secretion from glands) that overregulates and mixes with dirt, dead skin, makeup, and bacteria. This "mixture" will seep into hair follicles and clog them, producing pimples. This can actually happen anywhere and everywhere on the body however, most people notice it on their face. No thanks!!
5. The digestive system turns batsh*t CRAZY!
It is no secret that your digestive system gets screwed up when you are stressed out. Sometimes you have a hard time going, or go too much. Your body's digestion is controlled by part of the nervous system that is related to the "fight or flight response." When that is activated by stress, digestion can shut down making your system not run as smoothly as it should be. Stress can also cause spasms in part of the esophagus or inflammation in the intestines. Sometimes this may be very painful. YIKES!
Freaked out now? Say #ByeFelicia to your stress and check out my tips to de-stress here.
