Unfortunately, stress has become an ingrained part of our daily lives as a result of the demands of this fast-paced world. However, many of us normalize this tension, which causes the body to become distressed over time. Some examples of ‘normal’ stress include road rage, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation and unhealthy eating habits.
Imagine being chased by a bear. You would experience an increased heart rate and blood flow to the muscles, your digestion would shut down and you would enter the classic fight or flight response. Daily stressors result in the exact same response, even though we aren’t running away from something. As a result, our bodies lose their resilience over time and we start to experience various symptoms.
I refer to these symptoms as ‘white flags.’ They are your body’s way of drawing attention to its waning resilience and failing health.
Initial symptoms include:
- Insomnia
- PMS
- Gas and bloating
The longer the stress response continues, the harder it is for the body to revert back to a normal homeostasis. Chronic stress exposure increases your risk for more serious diseases, which include cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and dysregulated blood sugar.