Remote work has become the norm,  and we have been learning to adapt and adjust to this situation for more than half a year. Though difficult at first, we’ve gotten used to video conferences, shared screens, regular phone calls and most importantly, irregular office hours. The 9-5 concept or rather, 8-9 hour working days have slowly transitioned into extended hours, which in turn has resulted in many being unable to deal with workload; coupled with anxiety, depressive thoughts, fears and insecurities. With a tendency to “deal with it later”, we do not realise the long term effect stress can have on body and mind. 

Workplace stress can sometimes be a motivator; it can be used to drive productivity and success, however more often than not, excessive stress can impact your workplace performance deeply, along with your physical and mental health. 

What happens when you are “stressed”: When we feel threatened in any capacity, as a response, our body automatically goes into “fight-or-flight” mode. The hypothalamus in our brain tells the adrenal gland to release stress hormones – adrenaline and cortisol. 

Long Term Effects of Chronic Stress

• Difficulty in breathing due to hyperventilation, causing regular panic attacks
• Consistent elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack, stroke and hypertension
• Muscle tension, caused due to muscles always being tensed, leading to chronic pain, headaches, migraines and more 
• Inflammation and increased cholesterol 
• Stress hormones cause the liver to produce more blood sugar, which if not absorbed result in Type 2 Diabetes. 
• Thyroid related problems 
• Chronic stress can result in changed eating habits, resulting in acid reflux, heartburn, constipation, diarrhoea etc 
• Men can face reduce sperm and testosterone production, erectile dysfunction, prostate and urethra related issues
• Women can experience severe PMS, changes in the menstrual cycle, irregular periods etc. 
• Weight loss or weight gain 
• Chronic stress also increases the risk of Cancer.
• Stress can show up on your face – wrinkles, dark circles, hair loss, adult acne, pale and dry skin etc are common effects of stress

Stress is a natural part of our life however, the key factor in avoiding the factors that affect our health, we need to implement habits and practices that control stress and help us fight it. 

Dharana Wellness Centre, a wellness retreat near Mumbai, focuses on holistic health which includes physical, mental and spiritual balance. One of the new programmes introduced at our  eco wellness retreat is Dharana Rasayana Retreat which focuses on resetting your mental wellbeing through holistic methodologies such as Ayurveda, Dietetics, Exercise Physiology and conflict resolution. As an Ayurvedic healing center in India, Dharana combines the use of an integrative, modern approach including Modern diagnostics with traditional practices like Yoga and Ayurveda to ensure a sustainable wellness journey.