Stress seems to be a part of daily life for most people these days. In fact, nearly half of all Americans say they’ve had at least one major stress trigger in the past year. Anything from illness and life changes to problems at work can cause it, and it can have a far greater impact on a person’s health than most people realize.
When surveying people about the average stress level they experience in their day-to-day lives, most report a moderate amount (1). Very few say they live with little to no stress, which is contributing to the obesity epidemic and other health problems we are facing as a society.
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What Does Stress and Anxiety Do To People?
Stress is often accompanied by anxiety. Everyone can and likely does experience some level of stress and anxiety due to our current work environments and lifestyles. With everyone always striving to achieve the illusive work-life balance, but no one really seeming to get there, both stress and anxiety are impacting people’s wellness.
In the moment, stress and anxiety cause feelings of a foggy mind. You have so many things to do, you might just feel like throwing your hands up in the air because you don’t know which direction to turn. Feelings of frustration are common, too, and that’s why highly stressed individuals are more likely to struggle with controlling their emotions.
However, in the grander scheme of things, stress and anxiety have an even more significant impact (2) on one’s productivity, health, and wellness. The fact is, stress and anxiety are more than just feelings. Such a state of mind actually impacts physical wellness, too.
- Poor Sleep: Stress and anxiety can keep you up at night, compromising the good sleep that is so essential to getting back your focus and happiness. This can turn it into an endless cycle, with you continuously feeling more anxious and stressed.
- Higher Risk of Disease: Stress and anxiety can compromise your immune system, put stress on your heart, and leave you at a higher risk of disease, including Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. These are life-threatening conditions and they require serious help and on-going management to address.
- Weight Gain: Stress and anxiety can lead to weight gain in many different ways. For instance, both can lead to over-eating or comfort-eating. Also, the poor sleep that results from stress and anxiety can decrease your energy, slow your metabolism, and hinder your body’s healing processes.
With 6 out of 7 Americans saying they live with stress (3) these side effects should be a major consideration when determining how to move forward.
How to Deal With Stress and Anxiety
An incredible 70% of adults say (3) that their go-to response when they’re experiencing stress is to lose sleep. Whether that means voluntarily staying up late or getting up early to work on tight deadlines, or involuntarily tossing and turning as they struggle to clear their mind, loss of sleep is definitely one of the biggest and most impactful results of a stressed or anxious day.
With 1 in 3 adults (4) already not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, adding stress and anxiety as contributing factors only worsens the issue. Plus, as many sleep studies have proven, the problem doesn’t just relate to quantity. Most people aren’t getting enough quality sleep, either.
Since lack of sleep contributes further to stress and also heightens a person’s risk of weight gain, disease, and other problems, it is essential that we all work to get more, better sleep. Of course, for most people, that challenge is easier said than done.
A natural remedy could be Curcumin – the yellow spice that colors curry. Curcumin is a strong natural anti-inflammatory agent, research has found that it has the potential to improve a number of health conditions — including depression. It looks like chronic inflammation and depression exacerbate one another according to new studies. (Pro tip: Curcumin’s absorption can be greatly improved by the presence of black pepper.)
Does experiencing anxiety and insomnia contribute to vivid and memorable nightmares?
Experiencing anxiety and insomnia can indeed contribute to vivid and memorable nightmares. When our minds are restless and anxious, it becomes challenging to relax and attain a restorative sleep. As a result, we may spend more time in the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, where dreams occur. This prolonged REM sleep can intensify the emotional components of nightmares, making them more prominent and harder to forget. That’s why nightmares stick with us when anxiety and insomnia are present.
Can Anxiety and Stress Affect Sleep Health?
The link between anxiety and stress and understanding sleep quality dimensions is well-documented. High levels of anxiety and stress can lead to decreased sleep quality, impacting factors such as duration, efficiency, and disturbance in sleep. It is important to address these mental health issues to improve overall sleep health.
Unlock Better Sleep
The design of a weighted blanket utilizes proven technology, which evenly distributes cozy weight across your entire body, leading to the release of serotonin within your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that your body naturally emits during times of rest and relaxation, and the triggered release of it will help you relax at night and fall to sleep faster while ultimately getting higher quality, more restful sleep.
She tried every sleep system and trick to conquer her insomnia for good.
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