Chronic Stress In America

Did you know that nearly one-third of Americans are living with extreme stress. Because of chronic stress, 77 percent of Americans have experienced physical symptoms and changes and 73 percent has been affected psychologically. Stress can affect you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Stress can affect us physically in many ways. When a person is stressed, their body produces more of the so-called “fight or flight” chemicals to get your body ready for an emergency. (5)Your brain tells your adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol. (2)Adrenaline and noradrenaline can raise your blood pressure, increase your heart rate, and also increase the rate at which you do things. (5)Adrenaline and noradrenaline also reduce your blood flow to your skin and reduce your stomach activity. All of these changes help make it easier for your body to fight or run
(5)It could also cause anxiety and irritability, which would make you more sensitive to things that happen. (2)Stress could put you into a state of depression, which could lead to behavioral changes. (6)Some behavioral changes would be eating more or less, sleeping too much or too little, staying away from others, and procrastination of responsibilities. (6)You could end up feeling the need to use alcohol or drugs to relax from the depression that stress causes. (6)Stress might cause you to have nervous habits, such as biting your nails. (6)Stress could put you on a roller coaster of emotions, such as sadness, being overwhelmed, agitation, and a sense of loneliness or isolation. (6)These emotions could cause mood swings. These mood swings could cause a person to change their mind or be set on a wrong decision. If someone was to do something little to the person, they might feel like everyone is against them and push people away. It could turn a person to be restless and have a lack of motivation or focus.