The Human Body and Stress


The human body is a well-designed machine, able to fight off diseases, able to house and nurture new life until it is time to give birth. Our brains, being the motherboard, controls function to the different parts of the body. It has control for things like appetite, emotions, even our motor functioning! It still amazes me how much our bodies are able to do and how much they are able to handle. But have you ever gotten to a point where the body is fatigued? Even the thought of getting out of bed has already depleted the little energy you had? Well, when we don’t manage our stress levels well, our body tends to throw out warning signs to let us know that we need to slow down. What kind of signs, you ask? Let me tell you…

Being a health professional working specifically in mental health, I see a lot of patients come in complaining of how at first their energy levels went down, and then they struggle with headaches or even tummy issues. I myself struggled for a while with chest pains when I was 17 years old. My GP couldn’t figure it out at first, did all types of tests. This is until she suggested that maybe I was just under a bit of stress and put me on medication. I stopped all extra mural activities, because it just hurt too much to do certain things. Looking back now, and knowing what I know now about the link between the body and stress, I can see that she was right.

See, when your body starts giving you symptoms like chest pains, a sore tummy, frequent headaches or maybe even something like back pain, it can be a sign that you’re not coping well with stress. Stress is defined as “a state of mental or emotional strain or tensions resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.” It is said that stress can trigger anxiety, especially when one does not know what the cause of their stress is. And I know that stress might not be a popular topic right now because it’s December and people are trying hard to party their sorrows away. But have you ever wondered why you’re trying so hard to have fun, even when you don’t feel the least bit festive?

Stress and anxiety do not only affect adults; children can struggle too. And if you were ever brave enough as a child to say out loud that you are overwhelmed, then you were probably greeted by an adult that said that children have nothing to be stressed about. I read an article earlier this year that said that although children may not have the vocabulary to say they are feeling anxious, they might say things like “my tummy is sore” or they might struggle to sleep at night or might even pull out their hair. All physical symptoms from the environment demanding more than they can give.

So next time you get a third headache in a few days, or go a week struggling with sleep. Take some time to figure out the cause of your stress and how best you can deal with it. Because a healthy mind and good coping skills, makes for a healthy body and better quality of life.

I am an Occupational Therapist by profession, but I have many roles that bring meaning to my life. In short, I love people, books and love.

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