Daily surprises, challenges, frustrations. Even the most optimistic and resilient among us may feel pushed to their limit.
Stress is not only bad for your frame of mind, it can also be hard on your health.
Here are a few ways to tell if your emotions are affecting your well-being:
You Get Sick Right Before Vacation
You work hard and you plan for time away from it all. Sure enough, it’s the first day of vacation and you feel it coming on.
You’re getting a cold. This is a surefire sign that you’ve been pushing just a bit too hard.
Your immune system held the germs off as long as they could. But now you’re sick. This happens to millions of people every year.
It’s really common among students.
They study hard, push through, and make it through finals week. They head home for break or they take a trip… and they are sick the entire time.
If this is your experience, then your emotions are likely a bit out of balance. It may help if you find simple things you can do on a daily basis to find a sense of calm. Take good care of yourself by having a walk, or taking some meditation time.
You’re Always Tired
Constant stress burdens your system on just about every level.
Your body has to work harder to manage its basic life sustaining functions. It takes more energy to simply survive. So you stay tired.
Stress also affects your sleep quality. If you feel exhausted on more days than you feel energetic, take a peek at your emotions.
Do you consistently feel stressed, frustrated, or overwhelmed? If you do, it may be time to create a few positive habits to bring those emotions back into balance.
You’re Gaining Weight
Chronic stress causes obesity and weight gain. Hormones released in response to stress tell your body to store fat.
At the same time, you may be receiving signals from your body to eat more because you’re tired. So you oblige, and the extra calories you consume are stored as fat. Providing very little “on-demand” energy for your body.
Sound like chronic stress creates a vicious cycle? It does.
If you’re gaining weight (or having trouble losing) and you’re not sure why, try looking at your lifestyle.
How might you reduce stress and create better habits to manage it?
Other signs that your emotions are affecting your health include:
- feeling depressed,
- acne breakouts
- eczema and psoriasis
- low sex drive
- allergies
- unexplained aches and pains.
Cultivating simple practices like meditation, exercise, or journaling can help reduce your stress and improve your health overall.
How is stress affecting your weight loss progress?
Please reply in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
Sherri Stockman ND is a Medical Intuitive and Energy Healer who helps her clients balance their emotions so they can achieve their goals, and have the life they want.
Find her at SherriStockman.com
