7 Things Stress Does to Your Body

Stress is, unfortunately, something we're all forced experience at some point or another.

Whether we're worried out about work, school, relationships or life in general, stress sneaks its way into our lives and can make things even worse.

Though we all experience stress in differently, we've pulled together seven not-so-fun things stress can do to our bodies.

Blemishes and Breakouts

Stress can cause your skin to breakout more than usual. This is because your hormones tend to be thrown out of whack due to whatever stressful situation you're experiencing. And it may not come in the form of zits all over your face. If you're stressed out, you may notice rashes developing on various parts of your body.

 

Sleep Problems

Everything that you're stressed out about tends to keep you up at night, meaning you can't shut off your brain and get some much needed shut eye. In turn, you'll be tired during your waking hours and have difficulty getting stuff done. You can combat this sluggish feeling by working out a bit more regularly.

(Girl Meets World via Disney Channel)

 

Sick Days (and Nights)

Believe it or not, a little bit of stress is actually good for your body. It helps stimulate your immune system, allowing your body to better fight infections and heal wounds. Too much stress, however, can weaken your immune system and make it difficult for your body to fight against foreign invaders. Dealing with the flu or the common cold won't be as easy a task for your body to handle.

 

Tension Headaches

Your muscles tend to tense when you're stressed. So, if you're constantly stressed, it's harder for those muscles to relax. Chronic tension can cause headaches and migraines on a regular basis. Relaxation techniques, like meditation can help your muscles relax, leading to fewer headaches.

(Pretty Little Liars via Freeform)

 

Appetite Issues

Stress can throw your eating habits out of whack. You'll either eat more or less than you normally do, which can lead to a number of health-related issues. Stomach pain is another common symptom of stress.

 

Difficulty Breathing

When you're stressed, you tend to breathe harder and faster than you normally would. Stabilizing your breath becomes more difficult the more stressed out you are, which can, in extreme cases, lead to a panic attack. Luckily, there are plenty of breathing strategies you can use to keep your breath in check.

(Riverdale via The CW)

 

Hair Loss

Not all of your hair will fall out, but you'll lose more hair then usual when you're stressed. You more than likely won't notice an increase in the loss of hair until a few months after your stress has subsided. This side effect is temporary and doesn't last very long, thankfully.

 

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