He peak of work stress It has become an all too common problem in our daily lives. Now we are surprised when someone talks to us about tranquility and well-being at work. And it is true, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the average level of work stress is 4.18 on a scale of 1 (not at all stressful) to 7 (very stressful).
When we get sick without any apparent reason or origin, it may be due to the somatization of our mental health. In fact, stress symptoms affect your body, thoughts and feelings. The challenge is to recognize the symptoms in order to help control them.
The deckchair depression
Have you ever started your vacation and fallen ill? It's quite common and there's an explanation. Spending your first few days off sick or in bed with fever, viruses, tiredness or a bad mood is largely due, of course, to stress at work.
Ricardo de Pascual Verdú, professor of Psychology at the European University, gives the key: “Life today involves significant wear and tear; we are all quite overwhelmed in our work“And it is something structural that we cannot resolve on our own, so we hold on and hold on and then the body, when we let up, takes its toll on us.”
Some doctors speak of this disorder as sun lounger depression They explain that there are biological, psychological, social and family reasons that cause this discomfort during the summer break. These doctors confirm that the trigger is the sudden change from overactivity and a peak of stress to inactivity and rest.
What happens in our body during and after a stress peak?
The change in demands has physiological impacts, in addition to producing hormonal changes that in turn influence the nervous and immune systems. Several investigations corroborate that while we are exposed to stress, the levels of adrenaline and cortisol is fired.
In turn, they affect inflammatory processes and the immune reaction, so when the stress level drops, there are likely to be inflamed tissues and more likely that the body will not respond well to viruses and the person gets sick.
“It also happens often at the weekend, you have been holding on all week and then Friday comes, you slow down, and you get a cold or the virus because after a period of worries and a lot of demands, of having used a lot of adrenaline, relaxation comes and the body takes its toll, it is as if by slowing down we give ourselves permission to fall,” says De Pascual Verdú.
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A stress spike affects 5 parts of your body
- The skin. It not only shows the passing of the years, it also shows our level of stress, exhaustion… Acne, spots, hives or inflammation are signs that we should be aware of if we go through periods of high levels of stress.
- Immune systemAs we have explained before, the flood of hormones released by stress reduces the body's response to outside invaders. Viruses or bacteria have an easier time penetrating our body.
- Digestive systemHeartburn, bloating, or constipation are some of the most uncomfortable long-term effects when stress is a regular part of your life. In addition, as a response to the situation The liver produces sugar which goes directly into the bloodstream. This can translate into a diabetes.
- Heart. During peaks of stress, the heart pumps faster, which causes the blood vessels to contract due to the level of hormones in the blood and divert more oxygen to the muscles, which increases the blood pressure. The heart attacks They are common in people subjected to very high levels of stress.
- Muscles. Muscle tension, perhaps the best known, is what causes headaches, back pain, and the latter can lead to contractures.
Tips to prevent it
- Disconnect daily so that stress does not accumulate, by doing leisure activities.
- Have hobbies to do daily things that are special for you and you don't have to depend on anyone to do them, so you can do them whenever you want.
- Do not go from 0 to 100 in one day, after a peak of work stress try not to disconnect completely, stay active with sport or some activitythis way we will ensure that our defenses do not plummet.
- Warn us when a peak of work stress arrives in order to manage it in a healthier way. And there are jobs that you know when you will be busiest. Try to maintain a good organization and try to relieve stressful stimuli during that period of time.
- Go to psychological therapy. We cannot always face stress peaks alone, that is why It's okay to ask a mental health professional for help.