What does worry do to the body? Beyond mental stress
You are probably like most women, you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about everything you have to do the next day, what the future holds for you or whether you will be able to achieve what you want most.
Worry is a natural response from your body, but when it becomes chronic, it wreaks havoc on your health and overall well-being.
Let's explore together what worry does to your body and how to manage it to live a healthier, happier life.
The physical impact of worry
When you worry, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode. That means your brain releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
While this mechanism is useful if you are escaping from real danger, when it is activated by daily worries, it can have negative effects on your health.
- Racing heart : When you are worried, your heart beats faster to pump blood to your muscles. If this happens frequently, it increases your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
- Rapid breathing : Worrying causes you to breathe shallowly and rapidly, which causes hyperventilation and a feeling of dizziness.
- Muscle tension : Muscles tense to prepare for a quick response, such as running away from imminent danger. This causes headaches, neck pain, and back pain.
The effect on your mind
Worry doesn't just affect your body; it can also have a devastating impact on your mind and emotions.
- Difficulty concentrating : When you're worried, it's harder to focus on everyday tasks. Like when you're worried about a presentation at work, you have a harder time focusing on preparing material or rehearsing your speech.
- Insomnia : Worrying can keep you up at night, robbing you of the restful sleep you need to function well. Imagine you're worried about an argument with your partner; you'll toss and turn in bed, replaying the situation over and over.
- Low mood : Constant worrying can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression, affecting your emotional well-being.
Concern about weight
Chronic stress and worry can also significantly affect your weight, because it causes an imbalance in hunger and appetite hormones.
- You gain more body fat : This can increase your appetite and cause you to store fat, especially in your abdomen.
- Weight loss : There are women who, from worrying so much, lose their appetite and lose weight quickly.
- Emotional eating : Many times, worry leads to emotional eating, where you seek comfort in foods high in sugar and fat, ice cream, pizza, sweet breads, which can leave you with a few extra pounds.
How worry affects your digestion
Have you ever felt butterflies in your stomach before an important presentation? Worrying directly affects your digestive system.
- Digestive problems: Stress disrupts digestion, causing problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, or constipation.
- Appetite that goes up and down : Some women lose their appetite when they are worried, while others tend to overeat for comfort.
- Heartburn and reflux : Increased stomach acid due to stress can cause heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux.
Be careful! Thyroid problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, cancer, etc. can all be added to these situations.
If you want to avoid what worry does to your body, find the keys in my post How to silence racing thoughts .
Important: This content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as medical advice. If you have any health conditions, please consult your doctor.
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