Divorce Stress Can Cause Physical Ailments

 Posted on July 05, 2018 in Divorce

Your mind can convince itself that you are not feeling stressed or depressed, but your body is more difficult to fool. Thus, your body may surprise you by feeling ill during your divorce. If your divorce is not causing you some stress, you either have nerves of steel or are completely oblivious to the high stakes of your divorce. Stress puts your body on a state of high alert as it prepares to react to a real or perceived threat. The constant stress of a divorce can wear your body down, and the mental strain may cause you to make poor decisions that do additional harm to your body. Here are seven symptoms that divorce-related stress can cause:

1. Weakened Immune System: People who experience excessive stress are often more susceptible to contracting colds and illnesses. Stress strains your body and makes it less capable of defending against sickness.
2. Fatigue and Insomnia: High levels of stress may cause your body to secrete hormones that tire you out but also make it more difficult for you to fall asleep. Insomnia can cause additional fatigue and stress, which perpetuates the cycle.
3. Headaches: People who are under stress often suffer from headaches. Though headaches are associated with several maladies, stress and anxiety are believed to be direct causes of headaches.
4. Digestive Problems: Stress can cause indigestion, acid reflux, constipation, and diarrhea. It can also exacerbate existing digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome. The problems may result directly from the stress or dietary choices caused by stress.
5. Weight Gain: People may cope with their stress by binge-eating or indulging in unhealthy comfort foods. However, stress can also release hormones that cause you to retain more fat in certain areas of your body.
6. Heart Disease: Your body’s natural reaction to stress can cause an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure. Prolonged exposure to these conditions increases your risk of heart disease.
7. Adult Acne: Chronic stress increases your body’s output of hormones, which may cause an acne outbreak. People who feel stressed sometimes touch their faces more often, which can spread bacteria.

Dealing with Stress

There are physical and psychological ways that you can combat divorce-related stress. Regular exercise and a healthy diet relieve tension and strengthen your body. Counseling can help you process your stressful thoughts and create mental coping mechanisms for when you feel overwhelmed. A Kane County divorce attorney at Goostree Law Group will work to minimize your stress during the divorce process. Schedule an appointment by calling 630-584-4800.

Source:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/25/divorce-stress_n_3428932.html