We Are All Affected By Stress

Most people feel stressed under certain conditions. Although stress can be motivating for some, it may affect the lives of others, causing hardship and adversity. Coping mechanisms and asking for support are important ways of dealing with stress.

Stressors are unexpected external events like the COVID19 pandemic, personal or familial health problems, family problems (divorce), socio-economic-political problems (instability), loss of a loved one, conflicts or long hours at work, and sexual abuse.

Some people are more at risk of developing distress in response to stressors. Among them, we find children, teens and elderly, people with pre-existing mental health conditions, drug users, people suffering from chronic health conditions (diabetes, cancer, etc.), and those living with a physical disability. Others include minority groups (LGBTQ, refugees), caregivers and homeless individuals.

Symptoms of stress can be multiple and may differ from one person to another

Stress can affect us physically, mentally and behaviorally. Symptoms include:

• Physical: headaches, dizziness, stomach aches, indigestion, sweaty palms, racing heart, chest pain, muscle tension and or pain (neck, shoulders, back) and sexual problems

• Emotional or mental: trouble thinking and making decisions, memory loss, difficulty in concentration, anxiety, loneliness, feeling overwhelmed or feeling of pressure, crying

• Behavioral: smoking, abusing alcohol and using drugs, abusing prescription medications (anxiolytics, etc.), compulsive eating or lack of appetite, sleep disturbances, avoiding responsibility, irritability, difficulty in accomplishing tasks/goals and avoiding certain places or certain people

Stress is not a medical condition in itself

Life is full of stressful events. Thus, taking care of your body and emotional health is a good strategy to preserve your wellbeing. Adopting a healthy lifestyle like following a balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep are good ways to cope with stress. Other healthy ways include averting stressors, prioritizing tasks and goals along with good time management, sharing your concerns with someone you trust, making time for yourself and for activities you enjoy, connecting with others, engaging in volunteer work and helping the community, trying to stay positive, and finally practicing relaxation techniques like calm breathing exercises, mindfulness, self-immersion in nature, doodling, etc.

Unfortunately, some people might engage in unhealthy habits or mechanisms in order to cope with their stress

Some of these behaviors include abusing caffeine/alcohol, smoking, using illegal drugs, playing video games, gambling, isolation, holding back emotions and struggles and discontinuing medications.

Immediately consult your GP or mental health professional if you are at risk of developing distress, experiencing distress symptoms, engaging in unhealthy behaviors for several days in a row, unable to cope on your own and unable to lead a normal life, or having suicidal thoughts.

Stress can trigger mental health diseases like depression, anxiety disorder, panic disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia

The way you deal with stress, emotions and emergency situations is affected by your mental health

Diagnosis is made based on personal and family history (mental illness, trauma, suicide, head traumatism, brain diseases, drug use), the presence or lack of risk factors (illicit drug use, prescription medications abuse), current treatment, and after screening for depression, anxiety disorders or other mental illnesses.

The severity of stress is evaluated by the “Stress rating test”: how much you are stressed from 1 to 10 (10 being the highest)

Somatic or physical manifestations of stress should be identified and treated, they include high blood pressure, tachycardia (high heart rate), sleep disturbances, abdominal pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), etc. If indicated, blood tests should be done (looking for hormonal dysfunctions (thyroid hormone), vitamin deficiencies) and sometimes a brain MRI can be ordered.

You can help your doctor by describing your stress triggers and circumstances, and their impact on your emotional and physical health

Stress is not a medical condition in itself and people who cannot cope with stress on their own (lifestyle modification, etc.), can be offered therapy that allows them to cope and manage during stressful events. Treatment includes:

• Talk therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): allows for identification of stressors and proposes healthy behavioral alternatives during stress
• Mindfulness-Based-Stress-Reduction (MBSR): combines mindfulness, meditation and yoga
• Medications: if necessary, to treat sleep disturbances
• Medications: to treat any underlying mental illness
• Eco-therapy: spending time in nature may improve your well-being
• Alternative therapy: yoga, meditation, acupuncture, massage

Follow-up is essential, as is referral to a psychiatrist for complex cases