Hyperactivity of the stress response has been implicated in the pathophysiology of melancholic depression, anxiety, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, and cardiovascular disease. Conversely, hyporeactivity of the stress response has been associated with disorders such as atypical depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypothyroidism, and obesity (Selhub, 2002).
It has been shown that there is a definite connection between chronic stress and physical and psychological responses in the body. Stress in small amounts is fine, but chronic stress over a long extended period of time has been shown to manifest itself in a number of different physical and physiological aliments. It is believed by many experts that people should take steps to decrease their stress levels in order to fight off the ailments that are sure to follow.
References
Dennis, Barbara. (2004). Interrupt the stress cycle. Natural Health. 34(9), p. 70-75.
Innes, Kim E., Vincent, Heather K. And Taylor, Ann Gill. (2007). Chronic Stress and Insulin
Rosch, Paul J. (2007). Stress and the Gut: Mind over Matter? Health & Stress. 11, p. 1-4.
Selhub, Eva M. (2002). Stress and Distress in Clinical Practice: A Mind-Body Approach.
Nutrition in Clinical Care. 5(4), p. 182-190.
Sun, Jing, Wang, Sheng, Zhang, Jun-Quan and Li, Wei. (2007). Assessing the cumulative effects of stress: The association between job stress and allostatic load in a large sample of Chinese employees. Work & Stress. 21(4), p. 333-347.
Watson, Roger, Gardiner, Eric, Hogston, Richard, Gibson, Helen, Stimpson, Anne, Wrate,
Robert and Deary, Ian. (2009). A longitudinal study of stress and psychological distress in nurses and nursing students. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 18(2), p. 270-278.
What are the Effects of Stress? (2007). Retrieved April 9, 2010, from Deserving Body Massage
Web site: http://www.deservingbodymassage.com/stress-whatis-effects.html
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now