Author: Elisah Sauerbier

Editor: Kintan van Leeuwen

Since the dawn of the digital age, technology has become an integral part of society and has been a catalyst for change. But is the pace still amenable to humans or will this be at the expense of human health? By participating in modern society, the human brain is working overtime. It is actively processing the continuous flow of information that is received through the internet and the usage of Social Media. Work productivity and responsibility take their toll and leisure time is filled with social obligations and consumerism. It is not uncommon for people to experience stress at some point in their lives. Actually, 75% to 90% of all visits to a doctor's office are stress-related ailments. Whether it's because of your job, finances, relationship, family, a lack of time management or any other reason, stress can slip into your daily life without you even noticing. 

Stress is a natural reaction of the human body and research shows that a certain amount of stress can even have a positive effect on one's performance. Stress induces one's alertness and can improve the performance and memory of the brain. However, prolonged exposure to stress or even chronic stress can have serious long-term consequences for your mental and physical condition. By raising awareness about stress and recognizing its symptoms, we can start taking preventive measures, alert others or seek professional help. 

What fuels stress

There are many causes for experiencing stress, but when we look at the bigger picture, there is a significant factor that keeps the wheel turning. The societal pressure to succeed links stress amongst adults and youth but also connects the most common causes of stress: money and work. Financial or work-related worries can create a lot of pressure on adults to succeed in their job performance and creates a vicious cycle of stress. High levels of stress can have a negative influence on productivity and performance, which - in combination with the pressure to succeed - results in more stress. 

In the United States, stress causes around one million workers to miss work each day. In the workplace, the main causes of stress are high workloads, tight deadlines and long workdays. Job insecurity is another cause of stress amongst employees. The economy is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, as the global unemployment rate of 5.9% in 2022 still shows. The International Labour Organisation has projected global unemployment at 207 million employees in 2022. For the people who are still employed, COVID-19 has impacted their job one way or another. Instability in the workplace has led to increased concerns about income and potential job loss amongst employees. Resulting in job insecurity being an inciting factor in work-related stress.

The pressure to succeed also affects youth. An online survey shows that 60% of young adults (aged 18 to 24) have felt so stressed by the pressure to succeed, that it resulted in feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope. In modern society, high academic achievement increases chances for further academic development and eventually, job opportunities and the possibility of financial stability. The pressure to succeed is passed on by parents who are accustomed to the performance-oriented work culture and want their children to be successful and ‘worry-free’, without being aware of the stress this can already cause their children. Social Media is another source that raises the pressure to succeed amongst youth, because it influences identity development and makes its mark by glamorising fame and wealth. In addition, Social Media plays a significant role in projecting toxic beauty standards onto youths and displaying unrealistic body images, which can eventually result in creating unrealistic expectations of their own appearances. The Mental Health Foundation states: “In our survey, 40% of young people (26% of boys and 54% of girls) said that images on social media have caused them to worry in relation to their body image.”

Symptoms of stress and long-term effects

Amongst knowing what fuels stress, recognizing its symptoms brings clarity on how to detect high-stress levels within yourself or within a loved one. Stress symptoms manifest in different forms - physical and mental - and also differ per person. 

If you are stressed, you can feel…

• Easily irritated or having a 'short temper’

• Overwhelmed with all the tasks you have to fulfil

• Your head is full of thoughts and you’re unable to quiet down your inner-dialogue

• You can't enjoy the moment when you're doing something relaxing

• Lonely, unheard or misunderstood

• Unmotivated for the things you used to be passionate about

• Easily distracted and difficulty concentrating

• You have difficulty memorising

If you are stressed, your body might show this by…

• Increased hair loss

• A raised heart rate, chest pain and troubled breathing

• Headaches or dizziness

• A decreased sex drive

• Weight gain or loss 

• Digestive problems

• Trouble sleeping or low energy

• A low immune system

• A disrupted menstrual cycle

The experience of high levels of stress or living in a continuous state of stress can have serious long-term consequences. We listed a number of these consequences below. May this alert you to take action and seek help, learn to manage stress and develop a lifestyle that benefits your health. 

• With regard to mental health, it appears that being exposed to stress can cause pathophysiologic changes in the brain and can induce or exacerbate depression and anxiety-related disorders. 

• A persistently high or irregular heart rhythm and high blood pressure can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

• Long-term exposure to large amounts of the stress hormone, cortisol, can increase the risk of obesity. 

• Stress can change the development of the nervous system as well as how the body reacts to stress. These changes can increase the risk for later gut diseases or dysfunction.

• Sleep deprivation from stress can physically alter your brain, making neurons less capable of communication and impairing your thinking processes.

• Chronic stress impacts your immune system and can damage your body’s defences against viruses and infections.

Escaping a stressful reality 

Everyone manages stress in their own way, because there is not one specific remedy to relieve stress and it is neither a quick fix. However, people who experience stress can create unhealthy habits or coping strategies to avoid confrontation with the problem or escape from their stressful reality. These coping strategies make stress even more damaging to one's mental and physical health and can eventually increase the level of stress.

An unhealthy habit or coping strategy can look like…

• Excessive alcohol/drug consumption abuse

• Sleeping too much or too little

• Eating large amounts of comfort food or eating too little

• Isolating oneself and withdrawing from loved ones

• Watching TV uncontrollably

• Endlessly 'scrolling' on Social Media

• Retail therapy that results in financial problems

• Self-harm

Little Leaders Foundation aims to educate people, raise awareness and ultimately have a positive impact on people's health and well-being. We are participating in Mental Health Awareness Month to break the stigma around mental health and to encourage people to seek help. Being able to talk openly about mental health, makes people realise that they are not alone and that asking for (professional) help is a courageous act.

Medical Disclaimer: Little Leaders Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioural health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited and edited. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.