No need to be nervous: what diseases arise due to severe stress
Failures in personal life, loss of loved ones, problems with work are the most common reasons that lead Russians to stress and depression. Psychological problems are sometimes accompanied by physical suffering. How an unhealthy mind is combined with an unhealthy body, why people succumb to strong emotions and how to resist the development of stress — in the Izvestia material.
What diseases are caused by stress?
The entire activity of our nervous system consists of two opposite but complementary physiological processes — inhibition and arousal, Denis Prokofiev, a general practitioner with the status of "Moscow Doctor," explained to Izvestia. Ideally, they replace each other, regulating emotions, mental and physical activity. When, under the influence of external factors, the processes of inhibition of the nervous system prevail, then a person experiences apathy, and any strong or prolonged experience or stress can lead to depressive states.
You can get depressed or neurosis for a variety of reasons, but these reasons are always subjective and significant for a particular person, says psychiatrist and psychotherapist Alexei Vilkov.
— Most often it is the loss of loved ones, a reaction to grief, serious problems in personal life, financial difficulties, loneliness, lack of meaning in life, unrealization. All this can eventually lead to clinical depression, when specialist help is already needed," the expert explains.
The situation with actor Oleg Buganov, who was depressed by his lack of work for a long time, is being discussed on the Internet. The forced downtime lasted from 2011. Lack of demand in the profession became the starting point for the strongest experiences, and the reason for hospitalization was, in particular, vomiting with blood and general weakness.
Indeed, depression can cause somatic symptoms, such as physical suffering, in addition to low mood, Vilkov notes. Patients usually complain of headaches, sweating, and a low-grade fever (from 37.1 to 38 °C).
— With these vegetative symptoms, people tend to go to a therapist. If the doctor sees no reason for such conditions, but pays attention to a consistently bad mood and severe anxiety, he may suspect depression and refer the patient to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist," continues Alexey Vilkov.
Vomiting with blood can indeed indicate problems with the stomach, related specifically to feelings, says Dr. Prokofiev. It has been proven that stress is one of the triggering factors of the appearance of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The body produces more adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol. For this reason, in particular, the level of acidity in the stomach increases, which leads to irritation of the mucous membrane and the development of a condition such as nervous gastritis. With this diagnosis, pain occurs in the stomach at a time of intense emotion.
— If you skip the gastritis stage, you can bring yourself to a stress ulcer that occurs against the background of prolonged experiences. In this condition, vomiting with bleeding is also possible," comments Denis Prokofiev.
Vomiting is a kind of symptom of temporary relief of the condition — the body tries in every sense to relieve the accumulated tension, Alexey Vilkov adds.
In addition to damage to the gastrointestinal tract, doctors associate other diseases with stress, such as the development of psoriasis and oncology. In the case of cancer, stress is considered as a factor that triggers irreversible processes.
— But these problems still arise against the background of prolonged stress. And because of small worries, blood pressure may rise, and the pulse rate may increase. This is also due to the release of adrenaline — this is the body's protective reaction," says Denis Prokofiev.
According to the doctor, the body is trying to adapt to stress by activating its work schedule. He perceives excitement as a signal to be fully prepared to solve the problem. That's why the heart rate increases, blood pressure increases, and more blood flows to organs and systems. A person's thinking and reaction even speeds up — this can be used in a specific situation when something needs to be done or it is necessary to escape from danger. But constantly stimulating the body with stress hormones does not benefit it.
What is depression?
Alexey Vilkov emphasizes that stress manifests a cascade of reactions — anxiety, anxiety, tension, vegetative reactions. If a person does not know how to cope with emotions, then an anxiety disorder develops, the nervous system is depleted, and various neuroses may appear.
— Depression is already a variant of a mental disorder. The causes range from genetic predisposition and brain disorders to chronic stress and an unhealthy lifestyle. The main symptom of depression is a persistent low mood that lasts for at least two weeks. This condition does not go away on its own and is expressed in a low mood and apathy," says Vilkov.
Depression is also characterized by sleep disorders, anxiety, pessimism, and gloomy ideas about one's future. Severe or prolonged stress turns into a depressive state when the body wears out and is no longer able to withstand the blows of fate. The person notes that he has no strength, reduced efficiency, appears indifferent to himself, to others, there is no opportunity and desire to do anything. For those who are unable to cope with stress, anxiety or depression on their own, specialists can prescribe antidepressants.
— If depression has biological causes (heredity and brain disorders), then drugs affect the work of neurotransmitters of the brain, contributing to the normalization of the production of serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline, — explains the psychiatrist. — And if the depressive state was provoked by unpleasant events or losses, then medications will help to "mute" the feelings. However, in this case, it is important not to drive the problem inside, but to gradually solve it or change the attitude towards it.
How to establish a personal life
A psychiatrist advises a person who finds himself in a hopeless situation, first of all, to accept the characteristics of his character, his personality, and to think about what qualities prevent him from adapting to the changes that have arisen.
— After this decision, it is necessary to create the right motivation, that is, to think about what needs to be done and for what. For example, for some, motivation is about maintaining health, while others are trying for the sake of their family or loved one. An even stronger motivation is to do something for the sake of children. When motivation is formed, it is easier to act, understanding exactly what is necessary for survival," says Alexey Vilkov.
The situation will definitely change, everything will get better. Acceptance, motivation, and action will help you cope with difficulties, the expert encourages.
— The anxiety background can be reduced with the help of light aerobic physical activity — hiking, swimming in the pool. It takes only 30-40 minutes a day to do this. Normalize your sleep, take baths with sea salt — this is a great relaxation," Denis Prokofiev suggests.
To improve the condition, you can drink herbal preparations as prescribed by a doctor. But you can't relieve stress with alcohol — alcohol will only make the situation worse. An interesting hobby will help to distract from worries. In any case, the main thing is not to trigger chronic stress, summarizes Denis Prokofiev.
If you are plagued by failures in your personal life, then the psychiatrist advises you to accept the fact that it is always difficult to build strong relationships in general. Regardless of a person's appearance, personality traits, and skills.
— For mutual sympathy to arise, it is important that a large number of factors coincide — it is always a certain luck. More practice is needed to make dating failures less painful. How to put them on the flow, communicate more, not lock themselves in, so that a single failure does not cause negative feelings, and the attitude towards them as a whole is calmer," says Alexey Vilkov.
According to the therapist, even according to conditional statistics, if you have 10 meetings, then the probability of reciprocity increases and some date will definitely be successful. At the same time, the expert advises to reduce the requirements for a partner and the dates themselves, remembering that there are no perfect people and perfect meetings. If you treat everything more simply and remove high expectations, then the probability of success in your personal life will increase.
Stress due to work
If a person is faced with a situation of lack of demand in the professional field, the director of the Association of human resources development experts "People. Business. The future" Anastasia Yurlova advises first of all to reconsider the strategy of job search. Many people limit themselves to standard job sites, but today it is important to use all possible channels, the expert emphasizes.
— In addition to the classic sites for finding permanent jobs and part-time jobs, use professional social networks: LinkedIn, XING, as well as Telegram channels with vacancies. Visit social media groups and specialized communities. Go into direct contact with employers. If there are companies where you would like to work, then you can write directly to the HR department," says the expert.
Anastasia Yurlova recommends looking at freelance platforms if you need temporary orders.
— Pay attention to professional communities. Not only vacancies are found here, but also the necessary connections. Consider the opportunity to find vacancies by word of mouth and through friends," the expert continues.
But first of all, Anastasia Yurlova advises conducting your own audit by answering two questions.: What can I do? What does the market need?
— After that, update your resume in accordance with the needs of the market, strengthening your own competencies. Be sure to check your social media accounts. Delete unnecessary information and unnecessary photos from there. Now there is no business left that would not watch the applicant's social media," suggests Yurlova.
Depression due to job loss is indeed very common, especially among those who associated their identity with a particular profession. Lack of demand in this case is often perceived as a personal failure. The expert advises to understand that the market is changing and it does not always depend on the person.
— Do not lock yourself in — communication with colleagues and friends helps to maintain a state of resources and keep abreast of news and trends. Keep physically active: even regular walks reduce stress levels, not to mention the gym. A clear daily routine will help you avoid procrastination. Don't let the temporary loss of your job become a reason for you to launch yourself," Yurlova comments.
According to the expert, even small steps, such as one job post per day, are better than a complete stupor.
— Contact a career counselor or psychologist for support if the situation drags on, — suggests Yurlova. — Lack of demand is a challenge, but not a sentence. It is important to be flexible, actively use all available resources, not be afraid of temporary work and continue to study. The main thing is not to stand still.
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