What are the early warning signs of stress? How do I know if my body is under chronic stress? That is the subject of the following guest article by Dr. med. Sarie Haisch.
About the author:
Dr. med. Sarie Ann Haisch is a licensed specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy at the Areion Competence Center in Neu-Ulm, focusing on the treatment of stress-associated illnesses. Previously, she worked in various inpatient facilities, e.g., the University Hospital of Ulm, the Kilchberg Sanatorium in Switzerland, and the Center for Psychiatry in Ravensburg. In addition, she completed training as a business coach at the CIP Munich. Alongside her therapeutic work, she offers seminars and workshops for companies. Her key topics include burnout prevention, healthy employee management, and strengthening resilience.
What is the function of stress in the body?
First, we must distinguish that not every stress reaction is unhealthy or pathogenic for the body. In itself, it has a very old and well-"tested" function: to warn humans of potential dangers, thereby ensuring the survival of our ancestors.
Only over the course of time did the so-called "dysfunctional" and pathogenic chronic stress reaction emerge, which our ancestors in the Stone Age were completely unfamiliar with. The difference here was, on one hand, that the reason for the stress reaction—the so-called "stressor"—was quickly eliminated; take the example of the dangerous bear that triggered the stress reaction—the person either fought or fled to escape the situation.
Then the bear was out of sight—for the—ideally unharmed—person—and the stress reaction could subside; the person could transition into the regeneration phase and "recharge their batteries."
What stressors exist in everyday life?
Let us now compare this with modern-day stressors: the choleric boss in the office, marital conflict, worries about job security, the Corona crisis—all of these are rather persistent things that cannot simply be eliminated through fight or flight and thus have a lasting, negative impact on our lives without any "breather phases."
Furthermore, daily life today often lacks opportunities for regeneration where the body has the chance to get rid of accumulated stress hormones. Above all, regular exercise is an important aspect here, as is cultivating so-called "resources" (=sources of strength) that help us switch off and recharge. These can be specific activities, but also certain places or people.
Therefore, it is important to recognize your own early warning signs of chronic, negative stress (distress) in good time. The sooner you can "correct course," the better for the further progression. Unfortunately, many patients arrive at my practice in quite late stages with a high degree of chronicity. The early warning signs were not recognized by the patients themselves and are also frequently overlooked by many doctors.
We talk about 3 different "levels" of stress symptoms that you should be aware of: cognitive stress symptoms, emotional stress symptoms, and physical/somatic stress symptoms.
What are cognitive stress symptoms?
The first is the cognitive level. By this, we mean limitations in mental performance, e.g., concentration problems, attention disorders, increased forgetfulness, an increased frequency of careless mistakes, etc. This all has to do with the fact that the brain switches to "low power" mode under the long-term influence of stress hormones. Normal performance levels can no longer be accessed. While this does return through renewed regeneration, it can unfortunately take quite a while for "full power" to be restored.
What do emotional stress symptoms look like?
Secondly, there is the emotional level, which very frequently changes in the context of chronic stress. People become "thinner-skinned," more irritable, and their mood shifts toward the negative pole. Affects fluctuate significantly, and one is less able to enjoy pleasant things. Furthermore, drive—the motivation for positive activities—can decrease, which can lead to a vicious cycle in more advanced stages.
What are physical/somatic stress symptoms?
The level most obviously affected is the physical/somatic level. Here, the body often shows typical psychosomatic changes due to persistently elevated stress hormones. The "classics" include: muscular tension (especially in the neck and back area), headaches, tinnitus, dizziness, heart palpitations, blood pressure fluctuations, gastrointestinal problems, skin problems, frequent infections, etc. Symptoms can manifest through any organ or body system and can occur together or change over time. The only thing they all have in common is the fact that no sufficient somatic cause can be found. I always consider it very important to have the symptoms checked physically first so as not to overlook anything before we classify them as stress-related and psychosomatic.
Conclusion
Stress fulfilled life-saving functions for our ancestors. It warned of danger and ensured survival. Nowadays, these life-threatening dangers no longer exist, but there are situations that can trigger stress in the body. There are 3 different warning signs, i.e., stress symptoms, that manifest on 3 different levels: the cognitive level, the emotional level, and the physical/somatic level.
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Series in the online magazine on nutrition, the psyche, and mental health with psychiatrist Dr. med. Sarie Ann Haisch
Together with Dr. med. Sarie Ann Haisch, Medicom will publish a series of guest articles on nutrition and mental health and provide simple health and nutritional advice. This allows everyone to read and apply tips and recommendations individually. This does not replace a visit to a specialist. It is a good approach to stay informed, motivated, and find ways to support and strengthen the body, mind, and a healthy nutritional style. In this way, you actively take care of yourself (self-care) and your own well-being.
• Would you like to read more on this topic? For example: What can be done about chronic stress?
• Do you want to know what the relationship is between stress and nutrition? For example, how food influences our psyche and vice versa?
