Chronic stress psychosomatics
Stress is the reaction of the body and brain to pressure or a threat. Short stress helps you pull yourself together, and long stress, according to the NHS and MedlinePlus, can show up as stomach pain, headaches, muscle pain, rashes and poor sleep. If you are tired, irritable, sleep badly or your heart pounds, see a GP and check your health. The Ladder method helps you see where you have been holding on at your limit for a long time, and it does not replace a doctor.
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When to see a doctor
A GP. They will check your blood pressure, pulse and tests, rule out thyroid disease, anaemia and other causes of tiredness, and then if needed refer you to a psychotherapist or psychiatrist. Come if stress gets in the way of work, sleep and relationships, if the symptoms do not go away for several weeks or if it scares you (NHS).
In the Ladder method
In the Ladder method stress is not explained by the words "you are weak" or "you should learn to relax". It is not your fault: the load can be real, and you cannot cope without rest. Check your health first, and questions to yourself go alongside caring for your body, not instead of it.
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In the method stress fits the image of a taut string: you hold on as long as you have strength. This is an image, not a diagnosis, and it does not replace a doctor.
On the ladder this shows up as the rungs "I have to get everything done" and "I am not allowed to rest until I finish". You can work through them at your own pace.
These are questions for reflection, not an explanation of what causes the condition and not a treatment.
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How it shows up
Book a doctor’s appointment if you notice:
- Irritability, anxiety or tears
- Hard to make decisions, thoughts racing
- Headaches and muscle pain
- Stomach pain, nausea
- Rashes or hives
- Appetite and sleep change
What medicine knows
Stress is the body's reaction to a feeling of threat or pressure. The body releases adrenaline and other hormones, so your pulse and breathing speed up and your blood pressure and blood sugar rise (NHS, MedlinePlus). The WHO defines stress as a state of worry or tension caused by a difficult situation and calls it a natural human reaction. A little stress is useful: it helps you focus and get things done.
Chronic stress is stress that lasts for weeks and months. It is caused by constant pressure at work and at home, money, illness, loss, loneliness, pregnancy and caring for children. According to the NHS stress appears when it feels like you do not have the resources to cope, and everyone has their own threshold.
Long stress shows up both in feelings and in the body. It is irritability, anxiety, tears, trouble making decisions, and also stomach pain, headaches, muscle pain, rashes and hives, dizziness and nausea. Habits change too: food, sleep, alcohol, contact with people (NHS). A person gets ill more often, because the body's defences weaken (MedlinePlus).
Stress is not a diagnosis, but its effects can be softened. According to the NHS it helps to split big tasks into steps, move, plan your day, talk to people close to you and use cognitive behavioural therapy techniques. Long severe stress can lead to complete exhaustion, which is called burnout.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know stress has become chronic?
If the tension lasts for weeks, you are irritable, sleep badly, get ill often, and have headaches, stomach or muscle pain, see a GP. Everyone has stress, but when it gets in the way of living, you need help (NHS).
Can stress cause illness?
MedlinePlus writes that long stress weakens the body's defences and can cause stomach pain, headaches and sleep problems. But you cannot put every illness down to stress, other causes need to be ruled out first. In the Ladder method stress is a reason to ask yourself where you are holding on at your limit, and this does not replace a doctor.
What can I do right away?
The NHS advises splitting a big task into steps, moving, planning your day, talking to people close to you and taking a few slow breaths in and out. If it does not help, see a GP.
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Answers to common questions
Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.