Stress… is it all in your head or something that comes from the outside? It’s both actually.
How we think about life can certainly impact our level of emotional stress. But stress isn’t just emotional.
Stress is anything that raises your stress hormones–which means not eating enough, nutrient deficiencies, lack of sleep, or even an injury can also be considered stress.
But whatever kind of stress you’re under – mental or physical – the chances are it’s impacting your quality of life in a big way. I found some of my favorite quotes about stress to try and put together a picture of how stress affects our lives and how we can cope with it.
Quotes About Stress and Health
The impact of stress on our health is well-documented. It’s something I talk about in my book The Nourished Metabolism, and is the topic of some of my favorite books like The Cortisol Connection and Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers.
Stress sets off a cascade of hormones in your body that can affect the way you think, your energy levels, your sleep, your blood sugar levels… the list goes on and on.
And I’m not the only one who thinks so.
(PS: This is my favorite supplement for helping me handle stress and feel more grounded even when life is hard.)
Here are some quotes about stress and health from some other folks who also think it’s a serious problem:
If your teeth are clenched and your fists are clenched, your lifespan is probably clenched. – Terri Guillemets
What we’re not adapted for, however, is the chronic, unrelenting stress that has become so common in modern life. This type of stress provokes feelings of hopelessness and helplessness – what psychologists call a “defeat response”. And it’s the defeat response that leads to increased fat storage, abdominal obesity, tissue breakdown, suppression of the immune system, and all of the other effects I listed above that directly cause obesity and diabetes. – Chris Kresser from chriskresser.com
If you don’t think your anxiety, depression, sadness and stress impact your physical health, think again. All of these emotions trigger chemical reactions in your body, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system. Learn how to cope, sweet friend. There will always be dark days. – Kris Carr, author of Crazy Sexy Diet
If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn’t ask me, I’d still have to say it. – George Burns
Stress increases stress hormones (adrenaline & cortisol) and causes blood sugar swings, both which contribute to stress hormones being too high at night (a common denominator in insomnia). – Catherine Crow from Butter Nutition
Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it. – Hans Selye, author of The Stress of Life
Chronically elevated cortisol levels are both inflammatory and catabolic and cause a myriad of disorders including: thyroid and metabolic dysfunction, cognitive decline, low serotonin levels resulting in depression, irritability, anxiety, carb cravings, immune suppression, altered glucose metabolism, elevated lipid levels, increased blood pressure, low melatonin levels resulting in altered sleep patterns, musculoskeletal issues resulting in difficulty recovering from exercise and possible subsequent injuries. Cortisol levels are also related to mental acuity and can factor into degenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. – Vanessa Romero from Healthy Living How To
Worry and stress affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system, and profoundly affects heart action. – Charles W. Mayo, M.D.
Stress Quotes, Wisdom & Encouragement
Although I talk a lot about the hidden physical stressors in our lives, the truth is that emotional stress still has a huge impact on our health and well being.
Learning to cope with this stress can be a critical part of making positive changes that can benefit your health and your quality of life. Here are some more stress quotes that help put things into perspective:
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. – William James
The truth is that stress doesn’t come from your boss, your kids, your spouse, traffic jams, health challenges, or other circumstances. It comes from your thoughts about these circumstances. – Andrew Bernstein, author of The Myth of Stress
Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. – Chinese Proverb
Being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy and rewarding life. -Marilu Henner
If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. – Mary Engelbreit
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. – Mother Teresa
One moment of patience may ward off great disaster, one moment of impatience may ruin a whole life. – Chinese proverb
Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow but only empties today of its strengths. – Charles H. Spurgeon
What are your favorite quotes about stress? What’s the best tip you can offer to help someone cope with stress?
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- I Stopped Dieting 6 Years Ago, and This is What Happened
- The Alternative to Giving Up
