Alejandro Martínez, psychiatrist: "If you get angry easily, it's a sign that you've become addicted to stress."

Mental health is a topic of growing concern in Spain because we are increasingly aware of the significant impact of neglecting it or thinking that only physical problems require our attention. However, if we feel something is not right with our body, we turn to professionals.

In the case of our mind, we may think it's temporary and will pass on its own, but that's not always the case, and sometimes a professional's help is key to preventing things from getting worse. "If you think too much or get angry easily, these may be signs that your mind and body have become addicted to stress," explains psychiatrist Alejandro Martínez.

Chronic Overload: Signs You're Addicted to Stress

"Without realizing it, we've become addicted to stress," explains psychiatrist Alejandro Martínez on social media. He tries to share some of his knowledge through his Instagram account, helping his followers learn a little more about mental health , put a name to what's happening to them, and become aware that they may have a problem without knowing it. "We've normalized living with our bodies tense, our minds racing, and our souls exhausted. We say 'I don't stop' as if it were an achievement, and we feel guilty when we rest."

This can lead us to complicated situations, where stress becomes part of our daily lives without us even realizing it, generating chronic overload that's difficult to detect. Martínez points out five symptoms that indicate we live in a constant state of tension.

Sometimes we are so used to living this way that we are unaware that it is actually unhealthy and that it is necessary to take these types of warnings seriously to prevent it from becoming our way of life or from getting worse.

"Anxiety no longer screams at us; it whispers to us every day: in the form of insomnia, irritability, fatigue, or a constant pressure in the chest," she explains, referring to the physical consequences of being subjected to this constant stress. "Since we're all the same, we believe it's normal, but it isn't. We've confused productivity with personal value , and haste with purpose, but a life on autopilot isn't life. Stopping isn't failing. It's remembering that you deserve to breathe, too."

How stress affects health

Stress is a physical and emotional strain that doesn't have to be negative because it helps us move forward; it's the body's response to a challenge. The problem arises when this situation, this worry, extends over weeks or months, becoming chronic stress . This causes physical and emotional exhaustion that can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes .

It can also cause tension headaches, skin problems (such as acne breakouts), hair loss, sexual dysfunction, a weakened immune system , back pain, and digestive issues, among others. There's no doubt this isn't a minor problem, and addressing it is the first step toward seeking help and finding a solution.

References

How stress affects your body and behavior. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic . https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987