We’ve all been there… exposed to a zillion tiny little things that annoy, aggravate, and agitate us. They are pesky little moments like a dropped phone call, losing keys, or forgetting an appointment. Annoying– definitely. Traumatic– hardly. And yet, consistent and persistent stress adds up and can result in overload and burnout that undermines our health and well-being. This is known as allostatic stress.

The Impact of Allostatic Stress

When the body and mind are constantly exposed to prolonged stress, it adapts to the wear and tear in order to maintain stability through change. Allostatic stress has profound effects on mental health as well as physical well-being.

When we are faced with trouble, our bodies’ stress response system is activated. In other words, when we sense danger the fight or flight response is activated releasing adrenaline and cortisol which are hormones designed to mobilize the resources and energy needed to cope with the threat. Once the threat has passed, the body returns to balance. However, when we are consistently overloaded and out of sorts our bodies become dysregulated. 

Prolonged exposure to stress hormones can harm our cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems. Over time this can lead to several health problems including depression, anxiety, hypertension, and obesity. Compromised health and well-being are a high price to pay for stress overload.

Symptoms of Being Overloaded and Out of Sorts

• Constant exhaustion and fatigue even when well-rested
• Poor focus and difficulty making decisions
• Moody and temperamental
• Changes in eating and sleeping patterns
• Physical aches and pains
• Constant colds and infections

Stress overload can impair our quality of life and make us vulnerable to chronic disease.

Tips for Coping with Being Overloaded and Out of Sorts

As long as we are alive, we will experience stress.  In an ideal world, we  would know how to minimize external distress, manage internal stressors, and create equanimity– come what may. Learning how to navigate and mitigate stress through healthy copy strategies helps to build resilience and improve subjective well-being. 

Here are a few simple tips that can help to tune-up our stress response:

• Pause and breathe
• Regular exercise, ideally 30-minutes a day
• Get outside in nature
• Healthy lifestyle management: sleep, nutrition, hydration
• Social support: regular connection with friends, family, and community
• Set boundaries and time management
• Outsource professional help (therapy, counseling, coaching, and/or medication)

The self-mastered human knows how to maintain composure, calm, and even-temperedness, even in difficult moments. In fact, a healthy dose of positive stress, known as eustress, elicits enthusiasm, excitement, and motivation to move forward in life. 

“There is no such thing as a stress-free life. No evidence has ever been presented which suggests that a stress-free life can ever be achieved. Stress can be managed, relieved and lessened, but never eliminated.” – Gudjon Bergmann

Learning how to navigate and mitigate stress through healthy coping strategies helps to build resilience and improve subjective well-being. 

Like what you’re reading? Want more consciously prepared brain food about this topic?

Listen to this Harvesting Happiness episode: Out of Sorts and on the Edge with Dr. Meg Arroll or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Take an even deeper dive with More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness on Substack and Medium.

Dr. Meg Arroll (PhD, CPsychol, CSci, AFBPsS, FHEA, MISCPAccred) is a psychologist, scientist, and author specializing in health and wellbeing. Dr. Meg’s solution-focused approach gives practical tips and strategies for life’s tricky problems. She is usually based in London, where she’s a regular contributor to BBC Radio, the Daily Mail, and more. Currently Meg is based in Alabama.

More Articles:

• 5 Healthy Steps to Less Stress
• 8 Tips for Finding Happiness on a Daily Basis
• Mindset Matters In Well-Being
• Stop the Stress: The Importance of Taking a Break
• 3 Reasons Why Having Less Often Leads to More Happiness