How Stress Affects Your Body and Your Tinnitus…
Monday, July 10th, 2006What happens when you are subjected to stress?
At times of stress or perceived stress, the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys, release the hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol into the bloodstream .
These hormones, which are also produced by nerve cells, are very powerful, stimulating chemicals, which affect almost every organ in our body, including the intestines, appendix, eyes, bladder and tonsils. These hormones switch off most metabolic activities, such as the digestive and reproductive systems, which are not needed at times of danger or perceived danger.
- The release of these stimulating chemicals into the bloodstream is essential to us. In times of danger they give us the extra energy to help us to run away, or stay and fight (fight or flight.)
Unfortunately, in the modern world we have nowhere to run to, nor do we have the opportunity to fight the danger, even if we could see or understand what it is that is threatening us.
Because of this we have generated a new response to danger - we freeze, both mentally and physically. In modern times we have fight, flight or freeze.
- Some of the first signs of the onset of stress on the body include alert breathing rhythms, quickening heart rate, raised blood pressure, nerve activation, muscle tension and release of essential body nutrients.
These are all designed to give the body the power to cope with danger, or perceived danger.
It is when we go into freeze mode that our body finds it difficult to dissipate the excessive build up of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol.
- If we do not dissipate these hormones and their effects from our system, our ability to produce the vital defence substances known as Interferons is drastically reduced.
Interferons are antiviral proteins produced by cells that have been invaded by viruses. Cells that are under attack from viruses release Interferons to provide protection for other cells which may be open to attack from the invading viruses. They also provide protection against any other organism that tries to invade the body.
So, if we experience prolonged or excessive stress, not only is our body under direct attack from within, it is also far less able to defend itself from even simple external infections such as the common cold.
This makes it harder for your body to cope with a wide range of illnesses. The body and mind become more vulnerable to further stress, our general health declines, and we can enter a vicious downward spiral killing your immune system.
This can give rise to negative attitudes and actions.
Some of the negative effects of stress include:
- Minor health problems, such as upset stomach, headache, colds, flu, back pain, muscle cramps and missed menstrual periods can increase. One can suffer a loss of confidence, and can gain a feeling of low self-esteem, a feeling of hopelessness and depression can set in.
- A feeling of intense fatigue can follow you about all day. Even when you wake after sleep, you still feel fatigued and tired.
- Sleep patterns can become distorted, waking at 3 or 4 A.M..
- Indigestion and eating disorders
- Self-blame, guilt, cynicism and a sense of total failure set in.
- Anger and resentment at nothing in particular.
- A feeling that something is missing.
- You may find an extreme reluctance to go to work builds up, making it harder to face going to work each day.
- Self confidence is lower.
- Self esteem is lower.
- Sex drive is lower.
- Appetite can disappear or you may have a desire to go on an eating binge, especially with sweet, sugary foods
It is a known fact that tinnitus causes stress and anxiety, now it is also known that stress and anxiety will cause your tinnitus to get worse. Which brings us back to the classic tinnitus cycle:
The Vicious Circle: The Classic Tinnitus Cycle >>>>>
Tinnitus > Sleep Problems > Anxiety > Tinnitus > Sleep Problems > Stress > Tinnitus > Stress >>>> causing your stress levels to rise…..