Chronic stress: symptoms, consequences and remedies

No need to remember that stress is one of the evils of the century and that the Covid and the various episodes of the health crisis have not helped. Recent surveys even show that almost 90% of French people suffer from it! In fact, many people are affected without even knowing it. Because, casually, this exhaustion takes you as soon as you wake up and sometimes does not let go of you all day.

Do you feel unexplained anger, have crying spells for things that seem insignificant at first glance, suffer from migraines, muscle tension or inadvertent forgetfulness? You might be too stressed out. Do not panic, solutions exist: we tell you everything in this article about chronic stress, its symptoms and the keys to remedy it.

What is the difference between acute and chronic stress?

There is a clear difference between chronic stress and acute stress. When it is acute, it is considered that the stress is caused by a one-off event, it is not made to last over time. For example, it could be a professional project to be completed in a short time, the preparation of an approaching exam or the participation in a competition. Acute stress is temporary and ends once the difficult period or event in question is over. Acute stress doesn’t just have its downsides: one of its goals is to keep us alert, fully aware of our abilities to perform at our best in a short period of time.

On the contrary, when the stress is not acute and it lasts over time, it means that the stress is chronic. It then results in a permanent malaise and is part of the life of our cells. As a rule, chronic stress affects people who are naturally hypersensitive and easily stressed. Usually calm individuals can also suffer from chronic stress when it comes to dealing with a stressful situation in the medium to long term. The Covid-19 health crisis, because of its unprecedented, uncertain nature and its long duration, have in particular plunged many people into a state of chronic stress.

Chronic stress: what are the symptoms?

We cannot summarize the phenomenon of chronic stress in a single set of symptoms. Indeed, the symptoms of stress are numerous and depend on each one, in particular on the way in which our brain reacts in the face of danger, threat and the need for urgency. In response to stress, the body defends itself by producing cortisol or adrenaline, two hormones that are intended to boost our system when it feels the need to take action. But this natural chemical reaction is not without effects on the human body and on memory. Several studies carried out by neuroscientists have shown that exposure to chronic stress can affect certain areas of the brain, in particular the hippocampus, the place of memory and emotions. Thus, certain episodes can sometimes disturb intellectual or memory capacities, in particular in depressed people or in those subjected to a great level of stress.

When it becomes chronic, a vicious circle starts and it becomes very difficult to control it. Hormones get carried away and you can quickly feel completely overwhelmed. And although the reality is sometimes very different, the more you stress, the more you feel in danger and the more you let yourself go to negative thoughts, an additional source of stress. This results in a change in behavior with a preponderance of emotions over action.
Emotional, psychological and physical symptoms can then appear. If the appearance of the latter varies from one individual to another, there are, however, several common effects, especially on the physical and memory levels:

• General decrease in energy for any type of activity,
• feeling of great fatigue that does not pass,
• migraines,
• eczema,
• depression,
• hyperventilation,
• weakening of the immune system and development of diseases,
• feeling irritable and angry faster,
• anxieties,
• excessive sweating,
• nausea and tremors.

Effects of chronic stress on the body and increased levels of glucocorticoids in the blood

The consequences of chronic stress are not just psychological. They also mark the human body in depth by entering the cells of the blood system: stress causes an increase in the level of glucocorticoids in the blood. They are more precisely substances secreted by the hypothalamus (the region of the brain which serves as a bridge between the nervous system and the endocrine system), the pituitary gland (endocrine gland located in the brain), the limbic system (area of ​​the brain involved in memory, learning and emotions) and the adrenal glands (located above the kidneys and which produce hormones essential for the proper functioning of the body).

The cells of the blood system involved in chronic stress also interact with receptors for serotonin (a hormone that serves as a neurotransmitter by ensuring transmissions between neurons). However, this hypersecretion can be at the origin of certain degenerative diseases and it was also found that it was involved in certain cases of suicides.

Bruxism, a major indicator of chronic stress

According to the French Oral Health Unit, bruxism is a disorder that affects around 12% of the French population. It is manifested by grinding or clenching of the teeth, mainly at night. This unconscious movement is often the consequence of anxiety problems and can be dangerous: in addition to premature wear of the teeth, bruxism can go as far as reaching the nerves and sensitizing the gums on a daily basis. Be careful, small ailments related to teething are not to be taken lightly: they can cause back pain, especially in the neck and be the cause of some migraines.

Several medical studies have shown that there is a link between teeth grinding and chronic stress. Two of them (dating from 1966 and 1972, published in the Journal of periodontology and oral implantology) have also proven that bruxomaniacs are more likely than others to be affected by depression during their lifetime. .

Consequence of chronic stress: hypersensitivity to noise

Among the difficulties faced by people with anxiety and chronic stress is hypersensitivity to noise. Some individuals are even led to consult to get rid of this specific disorder.

We don’t always realize it, but the world we live in is very noisy. Cars and horns in the street, washing machine and dryer at home, lively discussions in the office… decibels often very quickly exceed the threshold recommended by hearing professionals. And for people with chronic stress, it can easily turn into a nightmare. Certain noise nuisances are particularly anxiety-provoking when one is in a chronic anxious state. We can then become very sensitive to the slightest noise and become easily irritable, or even in some extreme cases, sink into a phase of depression.

In addition to the hearing losses and the drop in energy that can be caused by exposure to too many noise pollution, certain underlying pathologies can also be accentuated by the phenomenon. If you are concerned by chronic stress problems, do not hesitate to take the initiative by paying particular attention to your environment and by going to consult at the first feelings of discomfort felt.

Insomnia, one of the effects of chronic anxiety

When it comes to stress, insomnia tops the list of inconveniences encountered by anxious and stressed people. If you are having trouble falling asleep, waking up several times during the night, or at dawn in an unusual way, it may mean that you are too stressed out.

Behind the consequence: a scientific process in the body due to the drop in melatonin, the sleep hormone, in the event of an increase in the level of cortisol (the stress hormone). In other words, secreting too much cortisol in the brain during the day causes a deficit of melatonin in the body at night. As a result, you may suffer from sleep disturbances and even insomnia.

Insomnia has harmful consequences on the hormonal system and on the general state of health. The result: exhaustion (physical and mental), memory problems, strong irritability, intense pressure on the body, increased difficulty in concentrating on a task … Even more for stressed people because sleep disorders can also be sources anguish.

Burnout and anxiety at work: what are the dangers?

The world of work is one of the most stressed environments. And very often, the question arises of knowing the real repercussions of too much stress on our state of health.

The consequences of stress at work are not to be taken lightly. Overwork, too intense a pace, imbalance between your workload and the resources made available to help you carry out your missions … all of which can be stressful and, in the long run, lead to burn-out. This state of work-related physical, emotional and mental exhaustion is more and more common and in reality a defensive reaction of the brain and body to say stop.

While some professions are known to be more stressful than others, no one is really immune. Personal difficulties can be added to this, reinforcing a feeling of helplessness already present. If you find yourself in this type of situation, it is strongly recommended to go to see a psychologist, a doctor or even to call on the occupational medicine. Likewise, do not hesitate to discuss it with your superiors if possible. Sometimes certain sources of discomfort arise from a situation of deep misunderstanding. It is therefore often necessary to burst the abscess to see more clearly and start again on a healthier basis.

Chronic stress: tips for healing

Because this type of situation is part of the life of our cells, in particular by impacting our immune system and our general state of health, it is necessary to respond to it with the appropriate solutions. Do not take the risk of developing an illness or sinking into depression. Do not hesitate to get help.

The first thing to do is to talk about what you are going through around you, with your doctor, a psychologist or those close to you if you prefer. If nothing is done, the risk is to cut oneself more and more from the world and to isolate oneself. However, this will have the opposite effect since it will then be very difficult to turn back to reconnect with the real world.

To end chronic stress and improve your symptoms, you can, for example, turn to alternative solutions such as:

• Yoga, meditation, relaxation exercises;
• sophrology;
• alternative medicines such as aromatherapy, acupuncture, osteopathy;
• adopt a healthier lifestyle: practice a regular sporting activity and rebalance food.

Know in any case that this situation of chronic stress is never final and that it is quite possible to remedy it. Cognitive and behavioral therapy can for example be considered. The positive results of this type of treatment have been scientifically proven.
You can of course combine these different elements together in order to obtain a completely personalized solution. The goal is to make you feel better on a daily basis, less anxious, as part of a lasting solution.