Stress Is Ruining Your Health: How Chronic Stress Affects Your Body (and How to Fight Back) 

By Dr. Cari | No-BS Wellness for Real Life 

Let's be honest: stress is basically a lifestyle now. 

You're juggling work, bills, caregiving, doomscrolling, and maybe even trying to remember to hydrate. (And, lord help ya if you’re trying to date) And, while everyone’s out here glamorizing grind culture and slapping self-care on a bubble bath, your nervous system is quietly unraveling. (And, that’s not the right kind of healthy grind, if you get my drift!)

Here's the truth nobody tells you: 

Chronic stress isn't just exhausting; it's wrecking your health from the inside out. We're talking hormones, guts, sleep, mood, immune function, metabolism, the whole shebang. 

If you're tired of being tired, wired, and wondering why your body feels like it's turning against you, this blog is for you. 

What Is Chronic Stress, Really? 

Stress isn't always bad. A little bit can help you focus, meet deadlines, or avoid danger (hello, fight-or-flight). But chronic stress? That's a different beast, and it’s rancid. 

Chronic stress = constant, unrelenting activation of your stress response. Your precious adrenal glands are NOT meant to handle months and years of this flavor of onslaught.

Think of it like leaving your car engine revving 24/7. Eventually, things overheat, break down, and stop working right…never mind the foul exhaustion being expelled in the efforts.

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Sources of chronic stress aren't just big traumas. They can include: 

• Overwork or job pressure 
• Relationship drama 
• Financial insecurity 
• Caregiver burnout 
• Medical gaslighting 
• The nonstop mental load people carry every day 

And no, your body doesn't know the difference between a tiger and a passive-aggressive Slack message at 8 p.m. But, you know how to combat one of those beasts (read: Do Not Disturb)

What Stress Actually Does to Your Body 

Let's break it down like a historic vehicle. Chronic stress triggers your adrenal glands to pump out cortisol, your primary stress hormone. That's not inherently bad but when cortisol is chronically elevated (or eventually crashes), it starts to silently cause really nasty problems. 

Here's how chronic stress messes with your health: 

1. Your Hormones Go Haywire 

• Irregular periods 
• Worsened PMS or perimenopause symptoms 
• Lower libido for everyone
• Estrogen dominance leading to belly fat

2. You Can't Go to Sleep and/or Stay Asleep 

• Racing thoughts at night
• Wake up at 3 a.m. 
• Feel hungover in the morning without the party 

3. Your Gut Becomes a War Zone 

• Bloating 
• Constipation or diarrhea 
• Food sensitivities 
• IBS flare-ups 

4. You Get Sick A Lot 

• Chronic cortisol suppresses your immune system directly as well as messing with your guts that are closely tied to your immunity.

5. Weight Fluctuations & Blood Sugar Chaos 

• Cortisol increases blood sugar and insulin resistance
•  Promotes fat storage especially around the belly 

Signs Chronic Stress Is Wreaking Havoc 

Watch for: 

• Fatigue that sleep doesn't fix 
• Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability 
• Sleep struggles 
• Brain fog or poor focus 
• Digestive issues 
• Low libido 
• Irregular cycles 
• Frequent illness
• Cravings 

How to Fight Back: Real Stress Relief That Actually Works 

You don't need a wellness retreat in Bali. You need simple, consistent support. (But, if you want an in-person consult in Bali, let’s for sure book that, too!)

1. Regulate Your Nervous System 

• Breathwork (try square breathing- in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4) 
• Cold exposure (not iced tea, but like startlingly BRRRRRR cold)
• Gentle movement (walks, peddling, non-sweaty yoga/pilates)
• Weighted blankets or grounding 

2. Eat in a Way That Supports Your Adrenals 

• Don't skip meals especially breakfast 
• Pair protein, fat, and fiber 
• Add electrolytes to your water (beware the sugar content for flavor!)

3. Prioritize Restorative Sleep 

• Go to bed at the same time nightly. Consistency is key, even on the weekends.
• Limit screens 1 hour before bed. Read or chit chat instead.
• Use magnesium, lavender, glycine 

4. Set Boundaries Like a Badass 

• Say “no, thank you”. It’s a whole, damned sentence that’ll literally save your life.
• Turn off notifications. Set the Do Not Disturb to commence at the same time every night.
• Rest without guilt. You earn it every day.

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5. Seek Support 

• Work with a provider who gets it.
• Surround yourself with like-minded, supportive people striving for improved wellness for themselves and for you.

Tests. Are they for me? 

Ask about: 

• Saliva or DUTCH hormone testing 
• Thyroid and sex hormones 
• Blood sugar and insulin levels 
• Nutrient deficiencies. Geography can play a big role in this, high desert rats!
• GI tests if you’re having a lot of symptoms in that system

You don't need a test to know you're stressed. Your body knows. And, that’s not a whisper in the night. It’s screaming.

The Bottom Line: Stress Isn't Your Fault, But It Is Your Business 

You're not weak. You are biologically responding to overwhelm in a social system that rarely gives anyone space to recover. 

So if stress has been messing with your health, let's stop pretending a bubble bath will fix it. You’ll be a prune far too often, and you deserve better. 

Need help recalibrating your nervous system and reclaiming your energy? 

Dr. Cari gets it. Book a consult and get support that treats your body with respect not shame.

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