Chronic Stress: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What is Chronic Stress?

Chronic stress is a condition when you feel pressured, irritable, tense, or highly stressed for a considerable period. The condition can usually last several days, weeks, or months.

Unlike short-term, occasional stress, chronic stress can lead to several health complications if not diagnosed and treated on time. It can lead to long-term effects on your physical, mental, and emotional health.

Symptoms of Chronic Stress

Watch out for these chronic stress symptoms to get this condition treated appropriately:

• Constant feeling of irritation

• Fatigue

• Illogical and ambiguous thinking

• Frequent headaches

• Inability to focus

• Difficulty sleeping and eating

• Digestion and other irritable bowel syndrome-related issues

• Feeling lonely and confused

• Poor self-esteem

• No interest in physical intimacy

• Feeling worthless

• Feeling scared most of the time

• Being prone to frequent infections

• Increased use of alcohol and/or drugs

• Withdrawing from one’s social circle gradually

• Pain due to muscle stiffness in various body parts

Causes of Chronic Stress

There could be several causes leading to long-term stress in a person, such as:

• For Adults

• Failed marriage

• Death of a dear one

• Extreme stress at the workplace

• Financial problems

• Being bullied at school or work

• Injuries affecting one’s routine life

Although there are many more causes, these are the most common ones that trigger the signs of chronic stress in a majority of circumstances when it comes to adults.

• For Kids

Children may show chronic stress symptoms due to ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), such as:

• Unfortunate incidents of physical, sexual, and domestic abuse

• Witnessing the separation of their parents

• Being forced into substance use

• Mental issues with parents

Chronic stress treatment can be decided only when you understand the causes of this condition properly.

Risk Factors of Chronic Stress

Chronic stress treatment should start as soon as you notice the symptoms. If left untreated, it can lead to many health issues, including:

• High blood pressure

• Extreme tiredness

• Obesity

• Diabetes

• Depression and other anxiety disorders

• Respiratory ailments

• Autoimmune problems

• Digestion and other gastrointestinal issues

• Cardiac problems

• Loss of interest in sexual life

• Insomnia

• Loss of appetite

• Acne

• Headaches

• Chronic pain in the joints

• Palpitations

• Profuse sweating

Diagnosis of Chronic Stress

Your doctor may use one of these techniques to diagnose chronic stress:

• Having a detailed one-to-one conversation to understand the thought processes of an individual

• Checking for physical effects and involving a related expert to suggest the right treatment; for example, an endocrinologist might work alongside a mental health expert to treat the digestive complications caused by chronic stress.

• Tests to check the level of stress hormones and advise accordingly

Treatment of Chronic Stress

Chronic stress treatment methods may include one or a combination of the following:

• Psychological Therapy

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• Medicines like antidepressants and sleep-inducers

• A healthy diet and active lifestyle

• Rehabilitation exercises

FAQs

1. Should I visit an expert for my chronic stress condition?

If you can manage your chronic stress with the help of a nutritious diet and active lifestyle, you can do so. However, when you feel stressed for a long time, develop severe physical complications, or start to have suicidal thoughts, you should immediately seek medical attention.

2. How do I know I have chronic stress?

One can have emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and physical symptoms of chronic stress like change in appetite, excessive sleepiness or insomnia, emotional withdrawal, lack of clarity or focus in thinking, lack of energy, overconsumption of drugs/alcohol, etc. You may not experience or manifest all the symptoms; however, if you have 3-5 symptoms for a long time, you might be suffering from chronic stress.