Stress can cause mental health problems. And it can make existing problems worse. For example, if you experience lots of stress, this might lead you to develop a mental health problem like anxiety or depression. Or a traumatic period of stress might lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Stress has a psychological impact that can manifest as irritability or aggression, a feeling of loss of control, insomnia, fatigue or exhaustion, sadness or tears, concentration or memory problems, or more. Continued stress can lead to other problems, such as depression, anxiety or burnout.
There is also evidence of chronic stress effects on hormones in the brain, including cortisol and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). High, prolonged levels of cortisol have been associated with mood disorders as well as shrinkage of the hippocampus.
Untreated stress can turn into a mental illness such as an anxiety disorder or depression. Almost everyone experiences some anxiety. This is normal. However, an anxiety disorder is different from everyday anxiety – it is more severe, can persist and may interfere with a person's daily life.
Feeling tired, anxious, depressed. Losing or gaining weight; changes in your eating habits. Sleeping more or less than usual. Gastrointestinal problems including upset stomach, diarrhea or constipation.
Toxic stress response:
This is the body's response to lasting and serious stress, without enough support from a caregiver. When a child doesn't get the help he needs, his body can't turn off the stress response normally. This lasting stress can harm a child's body and brain and can cause lifelong health problems.
Chronic stress differs from acute stress in that it is a lingering, pervasive feeling of being under pressure or overwhelmed.
Stress is sometimes unavoidable—we all experience it. But there are ways to help your brain recover. For example: Regular exercise can help regulate your fight-or-flight response, and it can nourish areas of the brain to improve brain capacity and function.
Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt. Extreme mood changes of highs and lows. Withdrawal from friends and activities. Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping.
Strategies to recover from chronic stress can include practicing mindfulness activities such as meditation and breathing exercises. People can also have a support system composed of family and friends, as well as a counselor or a psychiatrist if needed. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication to reduce stress.
Highly stressful or life-changing events may sometimes trigger schizophrenia. These can include: being abused or harassed. losing someone close to you.
In general, stressful situations can make people angry or hostile, express aggressive behavior and can cause a drop in productivity or efficiency. An analysis of various personality types and their reactions to stressful situations do not make any personality or any reaction to certain situations the wrong one.
Chronic stress can increase stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this raises blood pressure and increases your risk for heart disease. If you have high blood pressure, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about the best treatment options.
It has been demonstrated that exposure to harsh experiences at critical developmental periods could serve as a risk factor for the reaction to subsequent stressful experiences, transforming a stressful experience into a traumatic one for the individual.
In contrast, trauma is not present in everyday stress. Everyday stress can manifest through exams, job loss, deadlines, and finances. However, extreme stress can lead to trauma. Traumatic events such as war, natural disasters, and assault are extreme traumatic stressors, leading to long-term mental health problems.
Distress describes the negative kind of stress that most people associate with feeling “stressed out”. Distress tends to cause people to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and to experience physical and psychological symptoms like headaches, tension, insomnia, inattentiveness or irritability.
If chronic stress has led to overwork, you can usually recover from it within a few weeks. If chronic stress has led to burnout, your body is exhausted. With exhaustion, recovery usually takes six months, a year or even longer. There can be a lot of variation in that.
One of the most commonly prescribed group of sedatives is the Benzodiazepines which include alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), triazolam (Halcion), temazepam (Restoril), and chlordiazepoxide (Librium).
The most common medications to manage symptoms of stress are tranquilizers, beta-blockers, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), among others.
If the spouse with the mental illness refuses to seek treatment despite understanding the toll the illness has taken on them and their family, recognizing that help is available, and having access to a licensed treatment center, then the individual may need to leave to protect their own mental health.
It's important to note that only a mental health professional can diagnose a mental health condition. Therefore, the only way to receive a definite answer to the question, “Do I have a mental illness, or am I overreacting?”, is to get in touch with a professional at an accredited treatment center.