Stress and mental health disorders

What is stress?

Stress is a reaction to situations or to change that we perceive to be threatening. It can be linked with positive experiences (a birth, marriage, etc.) or negative experiences ( job loss, financial worries, death of a loved one, etc.).

 

It’s important to realize that the way you feel regarding a situation plays a vital role in triggering stress. A situation which is stressful for one person might not be stressful for another person, and vice versa. The intensity and causes of stress involve some individual variability. Stress and mental health disorders are interlinked.

 

Effects of stress

 

How can stress affect your mental health?

Stress affects your mental health as it has a psychological impact that can be apparent as aggression or irritability, concentration or memory problems, a feeling of loss of control, fatigue or exhaustion, insomnia, sadness or tears, or more.

 

Continued stress can cause other problems, such as anxiety, depression, or burnout. Good stress management techniques improve your mental health and quality of life.

 

How does stress affect your physical health?

Stress not only affects your mental health in a negative way, but also your physical health. For instance, it can cause a higher risk of gastrointestinal problems (heartburn, diarrhea,  stomach ulcers, etc.), heart disease, increased blood pressure, back or neck pain, and headaches. It can also cause addictions and unhealthy behaviors.

 

 

Is stress a mental health issue?

 Stress is not generally considered a mental health issue. But it is linked to our mental health in various ways:

 

Stress can lead to mental health problems:

Stress and mental health disorders are closely related. Stress can  make existing psychological problems worse. For example, if you face lots of stress, this might cause developing a mental health problem such as depression or anxiety. Or a traumatic period of stress causes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

 

Mental health issues can cause stress:

You might find dealing with your day-to-day mental health problem symptoms is stressful. You can also feel stressed about managing healthcare appointments, medication or other treatments.

 

Use of alcohol or recreational drugs to cope with stress:

Use of recreational drugs could also affect your psychological health, and cause further stress.

 

Causes of stress and other mental illnesses

A lot of things can cause stress and other mental illnesses such as:

• Divorce or separation

• Bereavement

• Unexpected money problems

• Losing a job

• Genetics

• Environmental factors

 

Word related stress also has a negative effect on mental health. People affected by stress related to work lose an average of 24 days of work due to poor health.

 

Even positive life changes, like going on holidays, gaining a job promotion or moving to a bigger house, can be sources of stress. If you feel stressed in all these situations, you may struggle to know whether you are unwilling or why to share your feelings with others.

 

Signs and symptoms of stress and mental health disorders

The signs and symptoms of stress may be emotional, cognitive (thinking-related), physical or behavioral. Their severity can vary from mild to severe.

 

Cognitive symptoms may include:

• Difficulty thinking or concentrating

• Frequent worrying

• Difficulty making decisions

• Memory problems

• Negativity or lack of self-confidence

 

Emotional symptoms may include:

• Moodiness

• Low morale

• Irritability

• Feeling guilty or unhappy

• Unable to relax or feeling agitated

• Feeling helpless or hopeless

• Feeling anxious, apprehensive, or nervous

• Feeling depressed

 

Physical symptoms commonly include:

• Headaches

• Muscle tension or other physical discomfort or pain

• Stomach problems

• Loss of sex drive

• Rapid heart rate

• High blood pressure

• Fatigue

• Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting

 

Behavioral symptoms include:

• Changes in sleeping or eating patterns

• Social withdrawal

• Nervous habits like teeth grinding, nail biting or foot tapping

• Increased use of cigarettes, caffeine, alcohol or other drugs

• Neglect of work or family responsibilities

• Decline in productivity or performance

Stress-related mental illnesses

Stress can cause various mental health disorders. Following are common stress-related mental illnesses based on different diagnostic criteria.

 

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD)

Reactive attachment disorder is characterized by an inability to express physical or emotional attachment to others. In children, symptoms commonly include a disinterest in emotional or physical comfort when lack of responsive emotions or distress. At times, this is a result of lack of proper care giving and neglect in order for the child to develop relationships. In adults, these symptoms increase and retard them from forming close relationships and possibly lead to other mental disorders.

 

Disinhibited social engagement disorder

Disinhibited social engagement disorder is a stress-related disorder which is characterized by behavior deemed socially and culturally inappropriate. This can include oversharing intimate information,  inappropriate behavior, or close, physical familiarity with strangers.

 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder develops due to past traumatic events particularly impacting the person’s mental health. This is often the result of remembering, reliving, or having nightmares linked with past trauma.

 

Major depression 

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental health issues, afflicting one in ten men and one in five women at least once during their lifetime. Major depressive disorder is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and its symptoms can interfere with daily routine activities such as school, work, job performance, and relationships. While the major cause of MDD is in a number of cases unknown, for many individuals the disorder develops during periods of chronic or excessive exposure to stress.

 

Anxiety disorders

Occasional anxiety is an expected part of everyone’s life. You might feel anxious when experienced with a problem at work, before making an important decision or before taking a test. But anxiety disorders involve constant or more than temporary worry or fear. For a person having an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away on its own and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily life activities. There are various types of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and various phobia-related disorders.

 

Acute stress disorder

Episodic acute distress or acute stress disorder order is similar in effect to PTSD, but commonly holds a shorter duration in a stressful situation.

 

Adjustment disorder

Adjustment disorder presents itself with symptoms with an identifiable cause. These can include work-related stressors, moving to a various state, educational shifts, or lifestyle or environmental changes. Adjustment disorder is usually a short-term experience and changes as the individual becomes more comfortable with the change.

 

Prevention and treatment of stress and mental health disorders

Different triggers can cause stress. Identifying your trigger will make it easy to develop ways yourself to deal with stress or experiment with different ways to manage your mental health. Here are some basic tips.

 

Exercising regularly: Daily exercise produces stress-relieving hormones which improve your mental and physical health.

 

Have a support system: You should reach out to others. Talking to a friend, attending stress management programs or support groups, consulting a health care professional helps.

 

Eat healthy: When you take healthy foods, you reduce stress causing triggers and stabilize your mood.

 

Practice relaxation techniques: Adopt a technique which works for you such as deep breathing, yoga, meditation, or massage to manage your stress levels.

 

Manage and prioritize tasks: To avoid feeling stressed, consider developing a system where you perform the most important tasks first and gradually work your way by the ones of lesser importance.

 

Know your triggers: Identify the kinds of situations that make you feel out of control, these are your triggers. When you know your triggers, you can avoid these situations or manage them in a better way.

 

Engage in activities or hobbies you enjoy: Intentionally setting some time to do some activities you enjoy can help you calm, relax and increase your overall mental health.

 

Summary

Stress is a normal reaction to change and a part of modern life. Stress and mental health disorders are closely related. To reduce the harmful effects of stress on your physical or mental health, it’s important to learn to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and if needed, to not hesitate to ask health professionals or  loved ones for help. Doing all these makes you more likely to stay happy.

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