Unless we live in an animated Disney cartoon, we all have some form of stress in our lives. Some people manage stress better than others, and although stress is linked to several health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, ulcers, cancer, diabetes and body aches - to name a few, it is also linked to how we look as well. With stress you can experience hair loss, acne, tooth and gum disease, obesity, extreme weight-loss, cold sores and pre-mature aging (wrinkles and gray hair).
The term "beauty sleep" isn't a joke. Sleep really does rejuvenate our bodies from the day we had and allow our bodies to recuperate. When we stress we typically lose sleep over what troubles us because your mind won't shut off and you lay awake thinking about everything. Learning to shut down your brain and relax to allow yourself to get rest is essential or you will wake up with puffy under eyes, dark circles and a sallow complexion as a result.
Your skin will also take a toll with occasional flare-ups of rashes, acne, and for those prone to eczema and rosacea; stress is the ultimate trigger. Your hair can whiten/gray and in extreme cases, lead to patches of hair loss, which is all linked to excessive levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) that gets released into the bloodstream during high stress times.
Gaining weight (typically the mid-section) is another side effect of stress, as well as extreme weight-loss for others. Not the ideal diet when you look bad all over. Women in general are a higher risk for stress than men (working mothers specifically, whether married or single) because they bear a greater work load than men or other women. We all have experienced financial, career or relationship woes that stress us, but learning to control and maintain your stress is the key.
Some people have personality traits that cause them to over-respond to stressful events or are even biologically prone to stress (lacking levels of seratonin which is the brain chemical involved with feelings of well-being). Certain diseases associated with immune abnormalities (rheumatoid arthritis or eczema) may actually weaken a response to stress. Naturally, the longer the duration of the stress, the more harmful the effects, so finding what yours are is the first step in dealing with it.
Whether you exercise regularly, do yoga, get massages, or engage in another form of physcial activity to release stress, you need to clear your mind and life as much as you can of the issues that ail you. Stress is unavoidable, but managing it is vital; so educate yourself on what your stress triggers are, how to control them and what methods will help you relax to deal with them. Your health (and looks) are at stake, so learning to isolate the issues will lead to a healthier more beautiful life.
