The Hidden Dangers of Everyday Stress
Are You Too Used to Feeling Stressed?
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to consciously acknowledge the effect stress may be having on our mind, body and soul. It can be difficult to spot when stress is taking over as it’s a gradual process. We don’t wake up one morning to stress, it builds over time, seeping into our sense of being bit by bit.
As a result, it can go unnoticed, or at least not addressed for quite some time, by which the effects become more ingrained within us.
As April is the beginning of Spring, a time for new growth, to blossom and feel revived, it’s the perfect time of year to address any concerns and make the necessary changes. Let’s do it together.
When Stress Becomes Your New Normal
Have you ever been so busy that you don’t realise how exhausted you are until you finally stop? Getting headaches, muscle tension, or constant fatigue, thinking, "That’s just life." But what if you’ve been carrying more stress than you realise?
Stress has a sneaky way of creeping into our lives until it becomes our new ‘normal’. But just because something feels normal does not mean it’s healthy, nor should we accept it as being. The real danger of stress is when we stop noticing it, and accept it as a part of us, until it takes a serious toll on our mental and physical health.
Have you ever heard of the boiling frog analogy?
It suggests that a frog placed in boiling water will immediately jump out, while a frog in lukewarm water, being slowly heated, will become accustomed to the rising temperature and end up being cooked to death without realising it.
If you were to be placed in your current situation out of the blue, having previously lived life in somewhat harmony, would you jump straight out?
How We Adapt Without Realising It
Stress is as quiet as it is loud or obvious. It doesn’t always show itself as panic attacks or breakdowns, sometimes it’s silent. It can show up as:
Always feeling rushed or behind
Having trouble sleeping (but blaming it on a bad mattress or too much coffee!)
Frequent headaches
Body tension
Digestive discomfort
Feeling irritable, anxious, or overwhelmed (but minimising it to others by claiming life will “calm down soon”)
The body adapts to stress over time, which is why chronic stress can become “the norm”. But your nervous system is still in overdrive, whether you realise it or not.
Why We Ignore Stress (Until It’s Too Late)
There are a few reasons why we let stress pile up:
We glorify busyness - Society appears to reward productivity, so slowing down can feel lazy
We assume stress is temporary - "Things will calm down soon," but what if they don’t? What is changing up ahead to lessen the overwhelm?
We don’t recognise the warning signs - Exhaustion, digestive issues, or even forgetfulness
We’ve been stressed for so long that we don’t know what calm feels like anymore
By the time we notice our inflated levels of overwhelm and stress, it’s often because we’re now dealing with burnout, anxiety, or even chronic health problems.
The Physical Cost of Unnoticed Stress
Long-term stress affects the body in ways we don’t always connect:
Pain & Inflammation: Stress tightens muscles, increases inflammation, and can worsen conditions like chronic pain
Digestive Issues: The gut is extremely sensitive to stress so ailments such as bloating, IBS symptoms, or stomach discomfort are often the consequence
Weakened Immune System: With stress mounting, your body is unable to fend off incoming illness as well as it would usually, so an increase in colds, flu and generally feeling unwell is likely
Memory & Concentration Problems - With your brain so distracted, there isn’t much capacity left to remember upcoming dates or ‘to-do’s’. You may well not have even been concentrating when having the conversation in the first place
Your body is talking to you. The question is, are you listening?
Breaking the Cycle of Chronic Stress
If stress has become your "normal," here’s how to become tuned in to what needs to improve:
Pause & Check In – Set an alarm daily and ask, "How do I feel right now?" To begin with, vary the time of day so as to get a fuller picture
Body Awareness – Notice any tension in your shoulders, jaw, or stomach
Mood Shifts
If small things irritate you more than usual, your stress levels may be higher than you think. There isn’t a lot of room for patience when you’re overwhelmed
Energy Levels
If you always feel drained, stress might be the cause
Small, Practical Ways to Lower Stress Before It Escalates
You don’t need drastic life changes to manage stress, in fact, that sounds quite stressful in itself! Start with small shifts to lessen the load:
Breathe Deeply: A few slow, deep breaths can calm the nervous system for an instant perspective change and internal reset
Move Your Body: Stretch, walk, or do gentle yoga to release tension. There’s always time for something that will make you feel better and lighter, especially when doing so is proven to improve performance anyway. Continuing to sit at a desk with a never-ending to-do list even though you’re flustered and can’t focus for more than 5 minutes is never going to result in productivity
Create Boundaries: Learn to say no without guilt. You are the only one living your life; it’s up to you to set it up in a way that is conducive to your values, true priorities and what you want from life
Unplug from Stressful Triggers: Recognise how you feel during activities or interactions and take breaks from news, social media, overwhelming situations and even certain people
Prioritise Rest: Sleep, downtime, and self-care aren’t luxuries, they’re necessities. You will never alleviate stress unless your body and mind receive enough rest
Conclusion: Take a Stress Check-In
Stress isn’t always obvious, but it’s always worth paying attention to. This Stress Awareness Month, challenge yourself to check in:
Where are you holding stress in your body?
How is it affecting your health?
What’s one small change you can make to reduce stress today?
If you’d benefit from having someone to discuss your stress scenarios with, someone to hear you out and create tangible plans to alleviate your overwhelm, book a FREE Discovery Call with me. I’m here to help you feel better and live life more intentionally.
Sandra x
