OP-ED: Stress has done more harm than good

On a daily, people stay home from work, learners miss school, other people go to see a healthcare worker or even die because of the effects of stress. Despite age, sex, ethnicity, and religion, no one is resistant to the burdens of stress as evidenced by the alarming statistics about stress which demonstrate the widespread prevalence of the state of mind.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines stress as any change that causes the body’s response such as physical, emotional, or psychological strain which requires action or attention. However, the way we respond to stress makes a big difference in our overall well-being. To some extent, stress can be a negative force that helps us feel more energized and complete tasks; however, when it is very intense and long-lasting, it can become a problem and affect our physical and mental health.

When a person has long-term or chronic stress, continued activation of the stress response causes wear and tear on the body. Physical, emotional, and behavioural symptoms develop. Physical symptoms of stress include: aches and pains, chest pain or a feeling like your heart is racing, exhaustion or trouble sleeping, headaches, dizziness or shaking, high blood pressure, muscle tension or jaw clenching, stomach or digestive problems, trouble having sex, and weak immune system. Stress can lead to emotional and mental symptoms like anxiety or irritability, depression, panic attacks and sadness.

Often, people with chronic stress try to manage it with unhealthy behaviours, including drinking alcohol too much or too often, gambling, overeating or developing an eating disorder, participating compulsively in sex, shopping or internet browsing, smoking and using drugs.

The prognosis of stress may be affected by an individual’s social support system, available coping mechanisms, but most importantly by the intensity, source, and duration of stress. If stress outweighs the coping mechanisms, the effects are most likely may shorten someone’s lifespan.

Stress can be experienced individually when you have a lot of responsibilities; in a group when a family is going through a difficult time; as a community when you belong to a social group experiencing discrimination and as a society during natural disasters. Conclusively, the best way to manage stress should target the source directly rather than the effects.

The authors are; Aisha Naava; Nursing officer working with Kawolo General Hospital and
Lilian Nuwabaine Luyima; BSc Nurse & MSN-Midwife & Women’s’ Health Specialist