Wired yet tired – how stress could be affecting your body and brain in Midlife
Struggle to relax and constantly feel as if you can’t switch off?
You’re not on your own.
Stress is a natural bodily response designed to protect us; it’s when it becomes ongoing and relentless, (perhaps so much so that we don’t really recognise the symptoms anymore), that it can pose a real danger to our health, none more so than in the midlife years when we are juggling multiple plates and responsibilities.
So what is stress?
In essence, our stress response helps keep us alive. When the body senses danger, it activates our ‘fight or flight’ response, and a number of hormones increase (cortisol and adrenaline) which enable you to be alert and ready for action, priming the body to escape from the perceived threat. This is perfectly fine in the short-term, in fact it’s necessary for our survival but when these mechanisms of actions remain activated and stress becomes chronic, problems eventually arise.
What effects does stress have on the body?
Gut issues such as poor digestion, IBS, nutrient malabsorption, even ulcer formation can occur
Weight gain, especially around the tummy area, not helpful in the midlife years when we may already be susceptible
Risk of chronic high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease
Hormonal issues leading to thyroid disorders and exacerbation of Menopause symptoms
A poor immune response and therefore an increased incidence of illness
Stress can also cause issues with brain function
The Hippocampus may shrink causing issues with memory, anxiety rises due to increased Amygdala activity and there can be issues with the Pre-frontal cortex which reduces decision making – not great if you’re trying to hold it together at the office and at home.
As I’ve mentioned many times before, we’re not called the ‘sandwich generation’ for nothing…..many of us are juggling ageing parents, teenage (or younger) children and the responsibilities of making it to the top of the career ladder. The unforgiving nature of who we are and what we do can drive our stress response, pushing our Nervous system to the max and increasing our risk of burnout ….and ultimately, illness and chronic disease.
When we are unable to get on top of stress, it also accelerates the ageing process, depletes our energy levels and increases our susceptibility to illness, whether that means a few days off work or a long-term more serious issue.
The importance of recognising the signs (they are universal but also unique to each and every one of us), and then managing them is a form of preventative healthcare that none of us can afford to ignore.
Book your free health review to start here.
If you also struggle to sleep, download my free sleep workshop here.
