Stress Hurts

In preparation for my presentation on stress for the Charles County Chamber of Commerce’s 2009 Working Women’s Day Retreat and the Longevity Studios Seminar, “Stress Mastering Techniques”, I came across this article, Stress So Bad It Hurts — Really.

I like the article because it’s basically a nice-n-tidy summary of how stress starts to affect your body. The body doesn’t care about where the stress is coming from or even if it’s real or perceived. Your body produces a stress response and adds all your stressors up to produce your overall stress level. As a human performance consultant, I have to look at a person’s current level of stress, which we call physiological load, and determine what are the appropriate actions to reduce their load. Most people come expecting to just have exercise thrown at them. When I find people with some of the following stress symptoms, I know it would be irresponsible to just give hard resistance or cardio training, because that would only add to their physiological load.

Stress Symptoms

• Pain of any kind
• Heart disease
• Digestive problems
• Sleep problems
• Depression
• Obesity
• Autoimmune diseases
• Skin conditions, such as eczema

From my experience, I would clarify one thing from the article. Christopher L. Edwards, director of the Behavioral Chronic Pain Management program at Duke University Medical Center, says:

“Stress does not necessarily cause pain, but it exacerbates the [physical] situation that may already be there. It diminishes your ability to cope.”

I have seen a direct correlation between unchecked stress levels and a person’s pain level when they come to see me. Chronically elevated levels of cortisol eventually result in pain. Reducing your overall level of stress is critical for reducing your level of pain.

I like to hear from you about your levels of stress and what symptoms you notice. Until then, relax and take a deep breath!