7 ways stress can harm your body
Stress can harm your mental well-being and physical health. But these simple tips can help settle your nerves.
Jan, 2026
1 of 8
Slide 1
Feeling frazzled? You’re not alone. Between worrisome current events and concerns at home, work, and school, Americans constantly manage a host of stressors. These effects are compounded by a mental health system that often fails to keep up with need.
It’s well-known that stress can cause physical issues like chest pain, teeth grinding, and sweaty palms. But it can affect the body in more surprising ways, too. Here are some of the many forms stress can take, plus smart strategies to help you take control.
Written byGeorgiann Caruso.
Medically reviewed byAnn Wendling, MD, MPH.
Sources: National Institute of Mental Health. I’m So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet. Accessed July 15 + 20
- National Institute of Mental Health. I’m So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet. Accessed July 15, 2022.
- Mayo Clinic. Emotional Exhaustion during times of unrest. Page last reviewed July 30, 2020. Accessed July 15, 2022.
- Cleveland Clinic. Insomnia. Page last reviewed October 15, 2020. Accessed July 15, 2022.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. The Effects of Sleep Deprivation. 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022.
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Healthy Sleep Habits. August 2020. Accessed July 15, 2022.
- MedlinePlus. Hyperventilation. August 13, 2020. Accessed July 15, 2022.
- MedlinePlus. Panic disorder. May 10, 2020. Accessed July 15, 2022.
- National Institute of Mental Health. Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms. 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022.
- National Health Service. Low sex drive (loss of libido). June 8, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022.
- MedlinePlus. Tension headache. November 9, 2021. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- Cleveland Clinic. Tension-Type Headaches. February 4, 2021. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- Bezov D, Ashina S, et al. Pain perception studies in tension-type headache. Headache. 2011 Feb;51(2):262-71.
- Hartford Healthcare. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Headache. 2022. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- Seng EK, Singer AB, et al. Does Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Migraine Reduce
- Migraine-Related Disability in People with Episodic and Chronic Migraine? A Phase 2b Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial. Headache. September 26, 2019.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coping with stress. March 25, 2022. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- NIH: National Institute on Aging. Sexuality and Intimacy in Older Adults. April 18, 2022. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- Graziottin A. Libido: the biologic scenario. Maturitas. 2000 Jan;34 Suppl 1:S9-16.
- Office on Women’s Health. Menopause and sexuality. February 22, 2021. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- American Psychological Association. Stress effects on the body. November 1, 2018. Accessed July 21, 2022.
- Harvard Health Publishing. The gut-brain connection. April 19, 2021. Accessed July 21, 2022.
Recommended for you
How can I be more consistent?