The Effect of Stress and Worry on Health and Behaviour
- Melissa McGrath
- Nov 25
- 3 min read
A report by the Mayo Clinic lists many effects that an anxious or over-stressed mind, has on both your body and on your behaviour:
Muscle tension or pain; sleep problems; fatigue; change in sex drive; memory problems; angry outbursts; being in a constant state of feeling overwhelmed and panicking or worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet. You may resonate with some or all of these things listed above and not even realise you are primarily doing it to yourself!
On a more serious level, some studies show an unhealthy amount of stress also being detrimental to neurological diseases such as Parkinsons. Large bodies of evidence suggest that stress can even activate inflammatory responses. Those with conditions such as Lipoedema for example, also need to have their management of anxiety and stress as one more ‘tool’ in their toolbox, in managing this condition. So why is this -
A 2017 report studying neuro science, reports that the release of glucocorticoids is one of the major stress hormones released during periods when we deal with issues in a stressful manner (as opposed to calm). Theses hormone – glucocorticoids – are now seen to have a pro-inflammatory impact on our bodies when referring to chronic stress. Intense stressors over-activate the immune system. Chronic stress is also widely thought to correlate with the progression of tumor growth and metastasis. Significant worrying triggers the release of hormones like cortisol which in turn can promote cancer cell survival and spreading.
Overall and for many reasons than can be detailed here, it is imperative to ward off illness to develop a skillset or mechanisms that you can call upon in order to manage times of anxiety, stress or worry.
You do not need drugs, you only need your time and willingness to learn how to control your own mindset, instead of your mind controlling you. We put time aside for Netflix right, we put it aside for shopping, for mowing the lawn, for calling a friend. Why is it then, that putting time aside that might significantly assist our health and also to improve our communication and behaviour with others, is not way up amongst toward the top of the list?
In a very interesting article I read (Chelsea Psychology Clinic) they summed up the worrying health effects of anxiety " Prolonged anxiety can lead to inflammation in the body, weakening our immune system. This leaves us more vulnerable to catching a cold, the flu and other types of infection, as well as how long it can take to recover from these ailments." Prolonged being important term here. As we all have periodic times of worry, that is life and it is not going to harm us if short-lived. In fact a small amount of stress kicks us into action and can make us efficient / think clearly. However it is when worry, anxiety or anxious thoughts continue on over a long period of time that it can start having quite a significant impact on our health. Particularly for those already suffering debilitating or progressive health issues.
Consider joining the many people globally, who access hypnotherapy every year in order to take control of how they manage thoughts that are unhealthy, overwhelming, or simply holding them back from living their best lives. It works.
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