How Stress Impacts Your Energy Levels and What You Can Do To Help

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(Photo : Anthony Tran on Unsplash)

There's no doubt that stress can be bad for your health. It can lead to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, as well as physical symptoms like headaches and insomnia. But did you know that stress can also affect your energy levels? When you're under pressure from a situation or life event, it triggers a response in your body called the 'fight-or-flight' response.

This is designed to help us deal with dangerous circumstances by releasing adrenaline into our blood so we have extra strength and focus when needed. However, if we feel constantly stressed out over an extended period of time, our bodies do not get enough rest or sleep. This means the body cannot recharge properly between stressful events. Here are some of the ways that stress impacts energy levels and how to make changes in order to improve your wellbeing.

Stress Is Natural

Stress is the body's natural response to pressures from a situation or life event. Your body's nervous system releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in response to pressures from a dangerous situation. While helpful in short bursts of time, long-term stress is often linked with negative health effects including anxiety, depression, obesity, heart disease, and even memory loss.

Stress can negatively impact your energy levels by causing you to feel tired or fatigued when you should be feeling energized. Stress may also cause you to have trouble sleeping because of the constant worry about what's stressing you out. If this sounds familiar, don't worry, there are ways that you can decrease your stress levels so that they do not interfere with your ability to get enough sleep at night.

Prolonged Stress Isn't Good for You

Prolonged stress can trigger many symptoms, such as fatigue and insomnia. It can also trigger headaches, muscle tension, gastrointestinal problems, and depression. Stress may also lead to anxiety or panic attacks. Does stress make you feel tired? In the short-term, no, but over time too much stress leads to exhaustion and weariness.

Everyone Can Be Stressed

Men, women, and children can all suffer from stress. Stress is a normal response to perceived pressure or a threat. Our bodies have adapted to react this way, so it's not surprising that many people feel stressed out at some point in their lives. However, if you're experiencing stress on a regular basis, it can take its toll on your health and well-being.

Adults experience stress from the pressures of work, making a living, paying bills, family demands and more. Children experience stress sometimes in response to a parent's emotions, but also from school demands, peer pressure, and more.

Short-Term Vs. Long-Term Stress

Short-term stress increases energy and focus, but long-term stress can lead to exhaustion. Your body constantly producing stress hormones can eventually lead to fatigue that every system is affected by. 

Short-term stress helps you focus, motivate, and get things done. If you notice that your stress level is consistently high and lasts for more than a few days, then it might not be good for your health. If you find yourself feeling perpetually exhausted and unable to focus on tasks at hand because of stress in your life, then know that there are things you can do about it that can help you maintain your energy levels and improve your overall health and well-being.

Exercise Reduces Stress

Regular exercise helps manage stress by releasing endorphins. Endorphins are the body's natural painkiller and are released during exercise, which can make you feel happier and more relaxed. Exercise can also help you sleep better. In some ways, these endorphins act as an antidote to the constant barrage of stress hormones.

Sleep Reduces Stress

Sleep is an effective way to reduce stress and lower fatigue levels. Sleep has many benefits for mental and physical health. It's important for reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and pain. You will find that you get better quality sleep when you're not experiencing any of those symptoms of stress or fatigue. But you'll also find that focusing on getting quality sleep by avoiding caffeine late in the day and putting down your phone an hour before bed can go a long way toward helping you rest easier.

Healthy Foods Reduce Stress

Diet affects your energy and your ability to cope with stress if you eat too much sugar or drink caffeine in excess. Sugar can cause spikes in blood sugar levels, which leads to fatigue and mood swings, anxiety, depression, and weight gain. Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause anxiety when consumed in excess. Eating a diet filled with natural meats, fruits, and vegetables is a great start when you want to eat a stress-relieving diet.