How Stress Affects Women's Bodies
By Josie Sticha
No matter who you are or what you do, we all experience stress. Stress can present itself in many different ways. For instance, a child might experience stress in his or her learning environment, a college student may feel the stress of finding a full time job or adulting into the “real world”, and adults can experience stress in their work place and home lives.
Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses (Women and Stress). Although stress is a normal part of life, it can really take a toll on our health. But how do the effects of stress differ in men and women? It is known that women are more likely to report physical symptoms of stress than men, such as headaches, upset stomachs, and weight gain. Even though these symptoms are minor, they can be the first sign of more complex issues such as depression, anxiety, or other health problems.
During stressful events, your body releases chemicals called hormones, such as adrenaline. Adrenaline gives you a burst of energy that helps you cope and respond to stress. For example, one kind of stress response is the jolt you may feel when a car pulls out in front of you. This jolt of adrenaline helps you quickly hit the brakes to avoid an accident (Stress and Your Health). The jolt of adrenaline is your body’s stress response. Stress can range from mild and short-term, to more extreme and long-lasting or chronic. Short-term stress can include getting stuck in traffic, being in an argument with your spouse or partner, and meeting a deadline at work. These mild examples are things that can happen on a day to day basis, whereas long-term stress can seriously affect ones mental and physical health. Long-term, chronic stressors include poverty and financial worries, discrimination, and traumatic events. Depression and anxiety are more common results for women who suffer from long-term, chronic stress.
Stress has many psychological effects on the brain. When a person experiences a stressful event, the amygdala (the area of the brain that contributes to emotional processing) sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus functions like a command center in the brain, communicating with the rest of the body through the nervous system so that the person has the energy to fight or flee the situation. This “fight-or-flight” response is responsible for the physical reactions most people associate with stress; such as increased heart rate, heightened senses, heavy breathing and the rush of adrenaline. To restore the lost energy from the response, the hormone cortisol is released. The body will return to equilibrium by dropping its cortisol levels when stress is no longer a threat (How Stress Affects the Brain).
In today’s society, women’s roles often include family obligations, caregiving for children and/or the elderly, and work responsibilities as well as other roles. Women can feel overwhelmed with the pressure of time and unmet obligations. They can feel a sense of failure in not being able to meet expectations for themselves and others, which oftentimes leads women to spend more time caring for others rather than themselves. Although cortisol is our body’s natural response to stressful events, the buildup of the hormone can have more long-term effects on the brain and can lead to other health problems. High levels of cortisol can reduce the brain’s ability to function properly. It can disrupt synapse regulation, resulting in decreased sociability and avoidance of others. Women with long-term stress may take longer to get aroused and may have less sex due to the overwhelming amount of stress. It can be harder for women who experience stress to get pregnant and control their premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms or regulate their periods.
Stress can feel like it’s taking over your life, but know you’re not alone. Here are a few ways you can manage your stress on your own:
Be present. Live in the now. Don’t worry about the future or the things you cannot control.
Listen to your mind. Challenge yourself – but don’t overdo it.
Integrate love, work, and play. Keep establishing relationships, accomplish your goals and doing things you enjoy!
Accept and care for yourself. Be kind to yourself – you’re important too!
Exercise. Going for a walk or even taking the stairs every day instead of the elevator can boost your mindset and reduce stress.
Drink lots of water & eat fruits and vegetables. A healthy body is a happy body.
References
Stress and Your Health. (March 14, 2019). Women’s Health.
Women and Stress. (February 13, 2019). Cleveland Clinic Health Library Articles.
How Stress Affects the Brain. (July 26, 2016). Touro University Worldwide Health and Human Service.