How Pandemic Stress Affects Your Body
Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN
Stress can cause a range of medical issues, but knowing that can change everything.
By now, almost everyone has experienced some form of stress or anxiety as a result of the pandemic.
Dubbed the “coronavirus blues” by some, this is a serious mental health concern with very physical consequences. Aside from the potential for self-harming behavior, mental stress can impact our bodies more than we may realize. Even if we act responsibly and avoid self-destructive behavior, our bodies have a tendency to attack themselves when faced with severe levels of stress and anxiety.
When you understand how stress can manifest physically, it becomes easier to address these concerns and pursue a healthier lifestyle – both in terms of your body and your mind. While the mental anguish of stress is certainly worth prioritizing, its physical effects should not be underestimated either. As doctors and mental health professionals around the world are beginning to discover, extreme levels of pandemic-related stress can impact virtually every organ in the body.
The link between the mind and body
The brain and the body live in a harmonious relationship. Fail to engage in regular exercise or eat a balanced diet and you may experience mental health problems. The equation also works in reverse. When the brain is subjected to high levels of stress and anxiety, the body begins to suffer.
Scientists have had a pretty firm grasp on this relationship for many years, and research has unveiled a link between stress and physical ailments like high blood pressure and heart disease. We also know that stress can cause digestive issues like heartburn, constipation, and cramps. Stress can even reduce our sex drive, causing infertility or erectile dysfunction. One study even discovered that stress can slow down our ability to heal from wounds.
The pandemic stress paradox
The interesting thing about stress is that it can imitate or even cause a range of very real medical issues. In a post-COVID world, a lowered immune system caused by stress can be a serious concern – especially among at-risk segments of the population. This becomes a bit of a paradox when you consider the fact that pandemic stress is often caused by fear of the coronavirus. In other words, fear of the virus can become so extreme that it actually increases our chances of contracting it.
A compromised immune system due to stress can also make you vulnerable to a range of other issues. One study found that cases of the autoimmune disease lupus had risen by 12% since the emergence of COVID-19. Many people who contract the coronavirus are completely asymptomatic. For these individuals, the effects of a lowered immune system caused by stress may actually be more threatening than the virus itself.
What’s even more interesting is the tendency for people to manifest coronavirus symptoms purely as a result of stress. Some of COVID-19's most notable early symptoms include shortness of breath, low energy, digestive issues, and headaches. Ironically enough, chronic stress can cause these exact same symptoms. The confusion and anxiety caused by this paradox are enough to drive some people to serious desperation. By worrying about the disease, these individuals may experience lowered immune function or symptoms that mimic the virus. What we’re left with is a vicious circle of stress-induced physical ailments that, in turn, create even more anxiety and distress as we worry about our health.
The science behind the mind-body connection
Hormones are the key link between the mind and the body. Stress causes the brain to release special hormones into the bloodstream, and these hormones are then transported to every vital organ in the body. Two locations in the hypothalamus region are responsible for the production of hormones in the brain.
When we become stressed, our brains send hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, or epinephrine to the pituitary gland. From there, these hormones are released into the bloodstream, causing a "fight or flight” response in our body. Suddenly, vital functions such as digestion and reproduction are disrupted as our body prepares for some type of imminent threat. One of the most basic physical changes that takes place is increased inflammation throughout the body.
Common pandemic stress complaints
Over the last few months, doctors have noticed a number of trends among people complaining of pandemic stress. Although many come forward with mental health issues like depression, suicidal thoughts, low energy, and substance abuse issues, others are dealing with more physical problems. That’s not to say that mental health issues are any less important than physical ailments - a general feeling that something is wrong can be just as serious as a compromised immune system.
With that said, here are some of the most common physical issues associated with pandemic stress:
Skin issues like rashes, eczema, and acne
Hair loss
Cracked teeth from grinding at night
Cervical discharge
Breast tenderness
The value of self-care
The physical effects of pandemic stress only underline the importance of self-care. During this period of isolation and anxiety, it’s important to do everything we can to relax and reduce stress as much as possible. Try meditation or a new hobby that helps you calm down. Exercise and maintain your social connections as much and as virtually as possible. Above all else, speak to a mental health professional if you believe that pandemic stress is becoming too much to handle.
Elliot Figueira is an experienced analyst and journalist with a passion for technology and innovation. Elliot enjoys having the opportunity to research new inventions and developments over the course of his workdays.
In Elliot’s mind, one of the best things about writing for a living is the chance to learn new things every single day.
Outside of writing, Elliot enjoys acting, science-fiction literature, and cultivating various types of cacti.