Don’t Worry - Be Happy!

It’s not pleasant to be constantly stressed out about life. Whether it’s the kids, parents, job or marriage, we will always find something to stress about. But stress has a number of negative effects, which can impact on the rest of your life. You thought you were worried before? Now you have to worry about worrying!

Weight Fluctuation

All people deal with stress differently, but one of the more common ways people handle stressful situations is altering their intake of food. Lots of people turn to the fridge when they’re feeling stressed, attempting to eat their sorrows away, and in general, a person under a lot of stress will reach for a can of whipped cream over a carrot.

Naturally, increased consumption unhealthy foods results in weight gain. At the other end of the spectrum, others eat far less when they are stressed. Some are simply too anxious and have lost their appetite, whereas other see limiting their intake of food a way of controlling this aspect of their life, to make up for the situation causing them stress, which they may have no control over. Either way, not eating will result in weight loss.

While this may seem like a positive effect to some people, losing weight in this way is very unhealthy.

All About Sleep

When feeling stressed about anything, you will tend to think about it frequently. During the day you have other things to occupy your time with, but at night when you are lying in bed trying to get to sleep, your thoughts about whatever stressful situation you are in can keep you awake.

Fretting about your wedding plans, or your meeting with the boss tomorrow can see you through to the wee morning hours if you let it. In the morning, your lack of sleep will not only show on your face, but most likely cause you to feel more stressed as well. It’s a vicious circle. Lack of sleep can also make you unable to concentrate and slow your reaction times, making it more likely for you to have accidents, driving or otherwise. Headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and even depression are also effects of sleep deprivation.

These are just two of the many ways stress can negatively affect other areas of your life. If you are experiencing weight loss or gain or suffering from insomnia because of stress, perhaps it’s time to de-stress your life. Don’t worry, be happy!