The holidays are approaching, and school is in full swing. For many people, it’s a time of year when stress ramps up.
How do you know if what you’re feeling is a normal, short-term response to your busy life or a chronic concern that requires medical attention?
As a primary care provider, I talk to patients about how stress impacts their health so I can help address the symptoms and root causes.
First, it is important to understand the difference between regular, “acute stress” and long-term, “chronic stress.”
Acute stress is a natural response to a specific situation in your life, like a big project at work or school. Acute stress might not be fun, but it isn’t unhealthy — it can improve performance and focus
in the short-term because it causes your body to adapt to the challenge you’re facing.
Chronic stress is more concerning.
Chronic stress means you are constantly in “fight or flight” mode and on high alert. This lasts for weeks, months, or longer, and can start to feel “normal” if left unaddressed. Common causes include toxic work conditions, relationship problems, financial concerns, and unstable or dangerous living conditions.
Eventually, chronic stress can contribute to serious health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, digestive issues, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and a weakened immune system.
If you think you’re experiencing chronic stress, talk to your PCP. Signs that it’s time to seek help include feeling overwhelmed, trouble sleeping, and using alcohol or drugs to cope.
I start by having an open, non-judgmental conversation about the cause of your stress and how it impacts your life. For some people, chronic stress is linked to a stressful lifestyle. For others, it’s due to underlying chronic physical or mental health conditions.
If lifestyle factors are causing your stress, we can talk about healthy habits for time management, sleep, relaxation, diet, and exercise. I can help you identify which pressures are at the root of your chronic stress so we can focus on improving the most impactful issues.
If a physical or emotional health condition is to blame, I can help you keep your condition well-managed through medication and lifestyle changes.
Many patients are surprised that their PCP can help with mental health issues. Just like I can prescribe medications for a diagnosis like diabetes or hypertension, I can do the same for anxiety or depression.
In many cases, once a patient feels better and has a plan for managing their chronic condition, their stress level improves. If necessary, I can provide referrals to mental health professionals and other specialists who can offer more intensive care.
Along with addressing the root cause of your stress, I can prescribe medication to help you relieve symptoms like high blood pressure, headaches, insomnia, digestive problems, etc.
Stress is a very individual issue, so patients should have an individualized plan!
As your PCP, I can develop a long-term relationship with you to better understand your pressures, goals, and medical needs, so we can work together to ensure stress doesn’t negatively impact your health.
Tomisha Ross, MSN, FNP-BC, sees patients at Regional One Health’s Harbor of Health, 718 Harbor Bend Rd. For appointments, call 901.515.4200.
By Tomisha Ross, MSN, FNP-BC
