The "Whole Person" Impacts of Stress
Chronic, bad stress doesn't just affect us in an isolated area: it impacts us in terms of body and physical health, our mental and cognitive function, our emotions and feelings, and the spiritual/faith aspects of who we are, which includes our sense of purpose and meaning, regardless of its source.
❖ Rapid heartbeat
❖ Headache/body pain
❖ Upset stomach – intestinal upset
❖ Cardiovascular Disease
❖ Dizziness, Nausea
❖ Chest pain
❖ Frequent colds
❖ Irregular eating habits (time and quantity)
❖ Irregular sleeping habits (too much or insufficient)
❖ Frequent and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol and drugs
❖ Habits exhibiting anxiety (“tics”, nail biting, counting, etc.
ADVERSE IMPACTS OF UNADDRESSED CHRONIC STRESS
UPON YOUR BODY/PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
❖ Inability to concentrate
❖ Inability to recollect facts, situations, names, numbers
❖ Interpreting situations negatively
❖ Denial, not owning responsibilities, blaming, justifying
❖ Delayed and poor judgment
❖ Feeling anxious with too many thoughts in mind
ADVERSE IMPACTS OF UNADDRESSED CHRONIC STRESS
UPON YOUR COGNITIVE/MENTAL WELL-BEING
ADVERSE IMPACTS OF UNADDRESSED CHRONIC STRESS
UPON YOUR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
❖ Depression
❖ Struggling to enjoy normal daily activities
❖ Irritability and anger
❖ Mood swings
❖ Loneliness
❖ Conflicts with coworkers and supervisors
❖ Addictive behaviors
ADVERSE IMPACTS OF UNADDRESSED CHRONIC STRESS
UPON YOUR SPIRITUAL/FAITH and PURPOSE/MEANING WELL-BEING
❖ Loss of depth, purpose and meaning
❖ Hopelessness, no goals or direction
❖ Loss of courage and inner strength
❖ Loss of faith, self-doubt
❖Loss of a sense of human connection
❖Loss of personal moral compass, values and ethics
ADVERSE IMPACTS OF UNADDRESSED TRAUMA AND PTSD
UPON YOUR WELL-BEING
❖ Concentration impairment
❖ Eating and sleeping disturbances
❖ Psychosomatic symptomology
❖ Addictions
❖ Suicide
❖ Depression
❖ Irritability
❖ Avoidant behaviors
❖ Changes in libido
❖ Increased personal and professional conflict
ADVERSE IMPACTS OF UNADDRESSED CHRONIC STRESS UPON YOUR BRAIN
TED TALK: "How stress affects your brain"
"Stress isn't always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you're playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it's continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its structure, and how it functions, right down to the level of your genes."