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Consequences of External Stress

Stress can be divided into two main sources: external and internal. External stress comes from outside sources while internal stress comes from inside the body. Some examples of external stress are job pressure, lack of sleep and marital troubles. Internal stress is often harder to define. It can include feeling depressed or anxious without any external stimulus. External stress can sometimes be beneficial in terms of being a catalyst to get things done.

  1. Stress and the Brain

    • The National Institute of Mental Health helped fund a study that uncovered how stress can affect cognitive function. In the study, exposure to stress was shown to activate protein kinase C, which resulted in impaired thinking and a decrease in the ability to perform memory-related tasks. Another study that the National Academy of Sciences performed showed that stressed out students had a harder time switching their attention from task to task than their less stressed out peers.

    Physical Symptoms

    • External stress can affect the body as much as the brain. Chronic stress can lead to debilitating physical symptoms that can even become life threatening. Some signs of physical responses to stress include headaches, stomach aches, diarrhea, constipation, an increase in blood pressure, insomnia, chest pain and body aches. The symptoms of certain illnesses and and conditions can become exacerbated under stress.

    Behavioral Responses

    • Behavioral changes in response to external stress can sometimes be detrimental to lifestyle, productivity and general well-being. Sometimes a reaction to stress can trigger obsessive compulsive behavior in an individual. Eating too much or too little can also be an unhealthy way in which to respond to stress. Putting things off, exhibiting isolating behavior and engaging in nervous habits are more unhealthy ways to manage stress. Perhaps one of the most detrimental behavioral responses to external stress is using substances such as alcohol, drugs or cigarettes.

    Stress and Emotions

    • In dealing with external stress, some emotional responses can arise. These can affect how a person relates to others and affect a person's sense of well-being. Some emotional responses to stress include agitation, irritability, loneliness and isolation, mood swings, depression and frustration. Left unchecked, these emotional responses can lead to more severe forms of mental illness. Fortunately, the body is resilient and can usually return to a normal homeostasis after the person removes the external stressors.

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