Causes and Effects of Stress =

Your body’s response to stress

When you’re faced with stress, certain hormones (chemicals) in your body are released. These hormones trigger many changes in your body. For instance, your:

• Blood pressure may rise
• Heart may pound
• Muscles may tighten
• Stomach may become tense

Stressors may include:

• Adapting to constant, rapid change
• Worrying about your finances and the economy
• Handling a major life event, such as changing jobs or moving to a new home
• Handling more than one major life event at the same time, for instance, dealing with a family illness while changing jobs
• Juggling many roles and responsibilities, such as spouse or life partner, parent, friend, employee, and caregiver for aging parents
• Going from one challenging situation to the next without taking time to relax
• Being overwhelmed by technology such as, keeping up with cell phone messages, e-mails, and text messages 

The long-term effects of stress

If you’re often under stress, you need to learn to manage it well. Stress can affect your well-being. Over time, you may show some of these symptoms of being stressed:

• Physical. Frequent colds or flu, headaches, trouble sleeping, muscle tension, skin problems, trouble with digestion
• Mental. Poor concentration, forgetfulness, learning problems, frequent negative thoughts, speech problems
• Emotional. Anxiety, depression, anger, irritability, feelings of helplessness, lack of purpose, relationship troubles
• Behavioral. Eating poorly, driving recklessly, abusing alcohol or drugs, being accident prone, showing aggression