Doctor Reveals No. 1 Sign Your Stress Is Becoming a Chronic Condition

Stress is a normal part of life, from challenges at work to juggling professional and family responsibilities to finances. While we can’t control what life throws at us in a given day, we can control how we respond to it, especially if we’re willing to change our habits and learn effective coping tools. When you’re in the thick of a difficult period, it can be hard to know if your stress levels are normal or so high they could lead to health concerns down the line. Stress that doesn’t abate and lasts a long time is known as chronic, and it’s important to try to prevent this for your long-term wellbeing, Dr. Akshay Syal, an internal medicine physician and journalist with NBC News, tells TODAY.com. Mental Health Tip of the Day: Seek Help for Stress If It’s Preventing You From Enjoying Life “If you have a new job or if you have a new relationship, these things can stress you out, and that doesn’t necessarily mean you have a chronic problem,” Syal explains. It’s your response to the feeling of being stressed that matters more, he adds. “For example, if you have a new job and it’s been months and nothing is improving ... is it interfering with your life to the point where you’re canceling dinner plans with people, you’re not seeing your friends and family, you’re not finding joy in the things that you used to find joy in?” “A disruption of things that bring you happiness and your daily routine (is) when we really start to worry,” he adds. Why It Matters When you experience stress, your brain triggers your sympathetic nervous system, also known as your fight-or-flight response, which sends adrenaline into your blood stream. This biological mechanism is less helpful in modern times, when it may happen before a big work meeting, than when we were running from prehistoric threats, Syal notes. The adrenaline causes a faster heart rate and breath, as well as higher blood pressure. It can help you think faster, but having this response too often can cause health effects over time, like fatigue, pain and tension throughout the body, high blood pressure and digestive issues. It can also lead to mental health conditions, like anxiety, depression and substance use disorders. How to Get Started If you believe your stress is chronic and taking over your life, talk to a health care provider, Syal advises. They can help you uncover to the real source of your stress and make suggestions about finding a mental health professional. Hobbies can also play a big role in managing stress, research has shown. Finding something that allows you to compress and take your mind of your worries in a healthy way can work wonders, Syal adds. TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.