The human body has the instinctive faculty to respond to danger and when the body comes into contact with anything that it senses as a threat, some involuntary physiological occurrences happen causing what is commonly called stress. This instinctive response is a defense mechanism designed to prepare the body to immediately react against danger. In most cases, when the body senses that the danger is no longer present, it returns to its normal, relaxed state. However, people who suffer chronic stress disorder remains constantly tense even when the danger has long passed.

There are several reasons that may trigger stress such as problems at the workplace, worries about family and marriage, and trouble with finances. The body senses these stimuli as threats, accelerating heartbeat, routing blood circulation to the large muscle, pumping adrenaline into the system, speeding up breathing, and heightening sense perception.

Chronic stress disorder will make it overly difficult for your body to switch off its instinctive response to threat, resulting to tension, inability to sleep, poor digestion, irritability, and worst, depression and anxiety. Most of the times, the only way that the body can tell itself to shut down its extended threat mode is through depression. If you feel the aforementioned conditions, and if you are in a constant red alert situation, then you are likely suffering from chronic stress disorder and should therefore seek the help of a physician.

Dealing with Chronic Stress Disorder

Since prolonged stress can alter the body’s chemistry and disrupt metabolism, your doctor may prescribe medication such as antidepressants so that your body will be able to recover its normal, balanced and relaxed state. Psychological counseling or “talk therapy” may also be a good course of action since a counselor can help you find ways to effectively cope with chronic stress disorder. Also, a good alternative therapy is through relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation because your body responds well to such methods.

A good exercise program is definitely a good way to relieve yourself of stress since it can actually burn cholesterol which is sometimes a by-product of chronic stress disorder. Aside from that, a good exercise program will also help you control a proper wake and sleep cycle since it will regulate your metabolism.

Of course, a healthy diet is a major key to coping with chronic stress disorder and its effects. Eating the proper kind of food will help your body take in the nutrients that it needs to restore the energy lost with stress and put your physiological condition back to its balance and relaxed mode. Staying away from caffeine, fats, and sugars while increasing intake of poultry, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as certain types of nuts and teas, is definitely a great help in becoming the healthy person that you were before chronic stress disorder struck.