Part 5 How does chronic stress affect us?

TRUE or FALSE?

Chronic stress or trauma can impact both our physical and mental health.

True

This statement is TRUE. Chronic stress or trauma can have numerous effects on our mental and physical well-being.

False

Incorrect. This statement is TRUE. Chronic stress or trauma can have numerous effects on our mental and physical well-being.

Impacts of Stress on Physical and Mental Health

When we feel threatened, parts of our brain that specialize in protecting us from danger take over. We go into “fight, flight, freeze” mode, a survival response that we share with the animal kingdom. Our hearts and lungs work harder, our body tenses, we feel anxious and alert. We are ready to run, fight, or do whatever we need to do to survive.

But the “fight, flight, freeze” mode isn’t very helpful when we’re dealing with chronic stress or cumulative trauma. We can become physically and mentally exhausted and experience numbness and feel “burned-out.”

It is likely that most of us over the past year have experienced one or more of the following conditions:

Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, numbness, or frustration.
Changes in thought patterns: worrying, self-blame, and confusion.
Difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
Changes in social behavior and relationships such as avoiding contact with family, friends, and co-workers.
Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests.
Difficulty sleeping or nightmares.
Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes.
Worsening of chronic health problems.
Worsening of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances.

Everyone reacts differently. No one should judge themselves or others for the way that their mind and body respond to cumulative stress or trauma. During this difficult time, it helps to be kind to ourselves and to support our friends, co-workers and neighbors.

Sources

Coping With Stress - Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Why the coronavirus pandemic triggers such deep fears and how we can calm ourselves down

Disaster Worker Resiliency Training - Manual

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