A bad mood can be a normal part of life sometimes. Everyone has off days, or days that they feel angry, impatient, or cranky. Some people are prone to bad moods all the time for various reasons. Other people face mental health challenges. How do bad moods affect stress? Being stressed out all the time affects the body. What does this mean to you and your health?
What Is Stress?
According to WebMD, “stress is the body’s reaction to harmful situations — whether they’re real or perceived. When you feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in your body that allows you to act in a way to prevent injury. This reaction is known as “fight-or-flight,” or the stress response. During a stress response, your heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten, and blood pressure rises.”
According to Healthline, “your central nervous system (CNS) is in charge of your “fight or flight” response. In your brain, the hypothalamus gets the ball rolling, telling your adrenal glands to release the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones rev up your heartbeat and send blood rushing to the areas that need it most in an emergency, such as your muscles, heart, and other vital organs.”
During this response to stress, your heart rate increases, breathing rate increase, muscles prepare to react, and blood pressure rises. The challenge with stress is that the body may experience all or some of these symptoms repeatedly when we experience strong emotions or stress.
Let’s discuss Chronic Stress in detail
Bad moods can contribute to chronic stress. Because the source of long-term stress is more constant than acute stress, the body never gets a chance to reset and relax. A bad mood can be like being stuck in a fight or flight state for an extended period.
Over time, continued strain on your body from stress may contribute to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, and other health problems, including mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety.
Stress Symptoms Include
- Experiencing bad moods, anger, or anxiety easily.
- Feeling overwhelmed.
- Bad moods leaving you feeling chronically stressed out.
- Low self-esteem.
- Avoiding others.
- Worrying
- Forgetfulness and disorganization.
- Inability to focus.
- Chronic bad mood.
Physical Effects Of Stress Include:
- Low energy.
- Headaches.
- GI Issues.
- Chronic aches & pains.
- Insomnia.
- Sexual problems.
Let’s review key Tips To Manage Stress
- Track moods using a journal. Watch for patterns in your life.
- Talk to your doctor or a mental health provider if you are experiencing chronic stress, physical effects of stress, or other mental health issues.
- Get regular exercise. This is one of the best mood lifters and stress-busters that exist. Getting positive endorphins from exercise is an excellent mood lifter.
- Deep breathing can help you centre yourself and reduce anxiety. Search online for various methods to try. Yoga, group classes, or individual breathing or meditation practice may help you reduce anxiety, prevent anxiety, or deal with it when it arises.
- Set goals and priorities. Using good time management and making sure you have enough time to accomplish needed tasks is a great way to reduce anxiety, bad moods, and chronic stress.
- Stay connected. You are not alone—Check-in with your network of friends or family who can provide support.
- Dealing with bad moods and stress can be difficult and overwhelming. Increasing your self-awareness and acquiring knowledge about how your body responds to bad moods and stress will bring your greater understanding of yourself and your behaviour.
- Learning how bad moods affect stress can help you create more excellent balance in your life and improve your mental health. Making subtle lifestyle changes can increase your sense of wellbeing and overall health.
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