Most of us have experienced stress and anxiety to some degree during our lives. But many people are living with excessive worry day in day out. The constant “what if…” running through their brain everyday; “what if I miss my deadline”, “what if I’m late”, “what if they don’t like me”. Constantly looking forward, trying to plan for every eventuality. We all know that it feels pretty horrible to be in this state but many don’t realise that chronic stress can have a serious impact on long-term physical as well as psychological health, due to sustained time spent in ‘fight or flight’ mode.
Mind and body are inextricably linked and the interaction between them can produce physical changes. Our brain notices a stressor, which triggers a physical reaction, this reaction can lead to further emotional reactions, which affect our mental and physical wellbeing. Some problems such as headaches and muscle tension are often directly caused by the bodily responses that accompany stress. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) works with the links between body, mind and behaviour to reduce both the long and short term effects of stress and anxiety.
Here are some of the effects that chronic stress can have on our bodies if left untreated:
Continue reading “The Long Term Effects of Stress – How CBT can help.”
