Long-Term Effects of Stress
Stress has both immediate and long term effects on the body.
While acute stress can help protect the body from dangerous stressors, chronic stress can have harmful effects on the body.
During the stress response the body releases hormones into the bloodstream that cause changes all over the body.
During acute stress, the level of these hormones returns to normal fairly quickly so their effects on the body are short lived.
During chronic stress, the level of these hormones stay elevated for long periods of time and their effects on the body are more long-term and harmful.
Effects of Chronic Stress
The brain is made up of millions of neurons. Connections between these neurons are what allows us to create, store, and access memories. During chronic stress, some of these connections are severed or they fail to form at all.[3]
When this happens it can make solving even simple problems or completing tasks more difficult than they normally would be. Emotions can become overwhelming and hard to deal with.
Luckily, there are ways to prevent the damage that can be caused by chronic stress. Taking steps to reduce the amount of stress in your everyday life, practicing mindfulness or meditation exercises, or visiting a therapist or counselor, can all help to reduce stress.
