Some Little Known Dangers of Stress
Stress Management & Health

Some Little Known Dangers of Stress

December 2024
7 min read
Dr. Geoff Nugent

Discover the hidden physical, emotional, and behavioral dangers of chronic stress—and learn how professional stress management can protect your long-term health and well-being.

There are so many things to be stressed about in your life. That's true no matter who you are, where you live, or what you do at work. From tough bosses to crying babies, from financial struggles to challenging final exams, life comes with stress.

Important Warning: A certain amount of stress is normal, even inevitable, but you shouldn't get too used to thinking that it's fine for you to be stressed to the max all the time.

The stress specialists at Nugent Family Counseling Center can help you understand more about the way your out-of-control stress may be contributing to other problems in your life, health, and wellness.

Dr. Geoff Nugent and his team provide stress management services and support for new and existing patients at our locations in:

San Jose, CA

Los Gatos, CA

Reno, NV

Stress and Your Physical Health

Your Body's Stress Response

When you experience stress, your body responds at a chemical level. Your "fight or flight" response activates hormones like cortisol that can help you react rapidly to danger.

The Problem: Even if you're not in physical danger at that moment, your body becomes ready to handle life-threatening situations.

Critical Understanding: The biological state of arousal that comes with stress can leave a lasting mark on your physical health and wellness.

It's not just in your head – stress affects you at a bodily level.

Immediate Physical Effects

Headaches

Tension and stress-related pain

Nausea

Upset stomach from stress

Digestive Problems

Gut issues when stressed

Physical Tension

Muscle tightness and pain

Long-Term Health Risks

Prolonged or severe stress increases your risk of many health conditions and complications. These include:

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Chronic stress elevates blood pressure

Heart Disease

Increased cardiovascular risk

Insomnia

Sleep disruption from stress

Weakened Immune System

Leaves you vulnerable to every cold and flu

Chronic Pain

Stress can be related to complex pain conditions

If you're experiencing physical health problems, it might be worth evaluating the role that stress may be playing in your condition. More effective stress management techniques could improve your sense of well-being and be beneficial to health outcomes now and in the long term.

Stress, Your Emotions, and Your Behaviors

The emotional and behavioral effects of stress can also be a risk to your long-term well-being.

Interpersonal Effects

When you're overly stressed, you may not be at your best when interacting with people who are important to you, or in situations that matter for your personal or career goals.

Dangerous Behavioral Responses

Stress can also cause you to engage in unhealthy behaviors:

Self-Medication

With alcohol or drugs

Risky Decisions

Making choices you'll regret

Self-Destructive Behavior

As a result of extreme stress

Social Withdrawal

Pulling away from important connections and hobbies, leaving you at risk for depression

Reducing Your Stress and Rebalancing Your Life

Stress comes from many potential sources, including:

Personal changes

Professional complications

World events

If you're concerned that your stress levels might be too high, and may be adversely affecting your health and well-being, get in touch with the team at Nugent Family Counseling Center today.

Our Personalized Approach

We can help you put together a personalized treatment plan to help you cope with stress, protecting you from damaging long-term effects.

With changes to your daily life and underlying mindset, you can reduce your stress back down to healthy levels, and get back to the things that mean most to you.

Protect Your Health from Stress

To learn more about stress management, contact Nugent Family Counseling Center over the phone or online, and schedule your appointment today!

Get Expert Stress Management Support

Reduce stress to healthy levels and protect your long-term health and well-being

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Don't Let Stress Control Your Health

Chronic stress doesn't just affect your mood—it damages your physical health, weakens your immune system, disrupts your sleep, increases disease risk, and can lead to dangerous behavioral patterns. But you don't have to accept it. Our personalized stress management approach helps you identify stressors, develop healthy coping strategies, and reduce stress to manageable levels—protecting your health today and for the long term.