Stress is a natural emotional response.  Some types of stress are positive and others can be quite negative. Each person has their own way to deal with the effects of everyday stress. Some of these are healthy and some, not so healthy. Did you know that excess stress levels can affect your overall health from the immune system to emotional health?

Small amounts of stress are quite natural and were developed in our  ancestors as a “fight or flight” response. Chronic stress levels can begin to affect how you live your life. The body and the mind are negatively affected when stress levels stay high for an extended time period.

It is well documented that chronic stress has a negative impact on the body. According to the American Psychological Association, chronic emotional stresses (anger) can trigger premature heart attacks, arrhythmia, and even sudden death. Stress kicks your body into high gear, raising blood pressure, causing perspiration, and even increasing the frequency of headaches. Stress is hard on the human body.

While it is easy to see the effects of stress on physical health, how can one know what stress levels are doing to emotional health? Emotional responses to stress have also been well documented. Stress will cause the body and mind to fatigue. When this happens an individual may become irritable and unable to concentrate on tasks. Chronic stress have also been linked to depression and bad lifestyle-decisions.

Thankfully there is help. Higgins Counseling Services helps heal the mind and the body by creating a strong support system. Therapists are taught special coping techniques that they can pass on to their clients. You do not have to go through this alone, ask for help!