Understanding Stress: What It Is and How It Affects Us
What is Stress? Stress is a universal human experience, yet its effects on our bodies and minds can vary significantly from person to person. At its core, stress is the body’s response to any demand or threat. When you sense danger—whether it’s real or imagined—the body’s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, or the stress response.
The Biology of Stress
The stress response is the body’s way of protecting you. When functioning properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save your life—giving you extra strength to defend yourself, for example, or spurring you to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident.
However, beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, mood, productivity, relationships, and quality of life. It’s important to understand how chronic stress affects various aspects of your health:
- Physical Health: Long-term stress can cause or exacerbate many serious health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorder, and other illnesses.
- Mental Health: Chronic stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. It affects your mood, your sense of well-being, your behavior, and your interpersonal relationships.
- Cognitive Functioning: Under stress, you may find it harder to concentrate or make decisions. Stress can negatively affect your memory and your ability to learn new information.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Stress
Understanding the signs and symptoms of stress is crucial to taking steps to manage it. Symptoms of stress can be varied and might include:
- Feelings of constant worry or anxiety
- Feelings of being overwhelmed
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood swings or changes in your mood
- Irritability or having a short temper
- Difficulty relaxing
- Low self-esteem
- Eating more or less than usual
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Using alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs to relax
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension or pain, dizziness
Managing Stress with Dr. Neena Pasrija
In Gurgaon, Dr. Neena Pasrija offers a beacon of hope for those struggling with stress. Recognized as the best psychologist in Gurgaon, Dr. Neena has dedicated her career to helping people understand and manage their stress effectively. With a deep understanding of the psychological underpinnings of stress, Dr. Neena employs a variety of evidence-based techniques to help her clients.
Her approaches include cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and practical stress management techniques that are customized to the needs of each individual. Beyond traditional psychological counseling, Dr. Neena’s holistic approach at the best homeopathy clinic in Gurgaon incorporates homeopathic remedies designed to promote physical and mental well-being.
To know more, visit us at Towards Healing. Book your appointment either by calling us on +919958316771 or +919289884959 or through our “Book Your Appointment ” page and embrace a healthier tomorrow.
