Stress can affect both the body and the mind In a world where success is valued based on certain tangible and material achievements, it is relatively common for people to feel compelled to work harder, sacrifice hours of sleep, and postpone self-care in favor of what is supposedly going to lead them to success. However, this trend can lead to significant wear and tear, both physically and emotionally . In fact, the psychologist from InstitutoCentta, Alfonso Méndez, asserts that we often focus so much on our goals and achievements that we forget to pay attention to the signals from our bodies.
“Listening to our body is essential to maintain a healthy balance in life.” These signs can include fatigue, stress, anxiety, or even physical symptoms such as aches and pains. “Recognizing and addressing these signals is essential for our overall well-being,” he points out.
But why is it so important to clearly understand those signals and differentiate between the types of stress? As Méndez emphasizes, stress is actually a natural and adaptive response of the organism to challenging or threatening situations that leads us to assess what our personal resources are to cope with it. And what happens is that if at that moment we do not have those resources to face the challenge, the stress response is triggered. But when this response turns into a chronic condition, the effects can be devastating.
“Chronic stress negatively affects the immune system , increases the risk of ca.