Public Health

Honestly, I didn’t realize how much daily stress was affecting my body until I started paying attention.

When we think about stress, we usually think of it as feeling worried or tense — but it quietly takes a physical toll too. I used to get constant headaches, random stomach issues, and trouble sleeping, and I just brushed them off as “normal.” It wasn’t.

Here’s the thing: when we stay stressed all the time, our body acts like it’s always in danger. It goes into “fight or flight” mode and keeps releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

After a while, this starts to affect the body in quiet ways. I noticed my blood pressure going up, my stomach acting weird, and I kept catching colds. I was tired all the time, my muscles felt stiff, and sometimes I even felt a tightness in my chest for no reason.

Stress really does sneak into the body without us even realizing it. And the worst part? Lack of sleep makes it even worse, so it becomes a cycle.

What helped me was slowing down just a little — taking 5-minute breaks during work, walking outside, drinking more water, and actually letting myself rest without guilt. It’s not about getting rid of stress completely (that’s impossible), but giving your body space to recover.

If you’re feeling run-down all the time, it might not just be “tiredness” — it could be stress showing up in your body.

I’m curious — how do you deal with daily stress without reaching the point of burnout? What little things help you stay calm and balanced when life gets overwhelming?