How does chronic stress affect your body over time?

Chronic stress keeps your body in a prolonged state of fight-or-flight, flooding it with cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this damages nearly every system. Your cardiovascular system takes a major hit, with sustained high blood pressure increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The immune system becomes suppressed, making you more vulnerable to infections and slower to heal. Digestive problems like IBS, ulcers, and nausea are common. Chronically elevated cortisol also disrupts sleep, impairs memory and concentration, and shrinks the hippocampus, affecting learning. Muscles stay tense, leading to chronic pain. Hormonal imbalances can reduce libido and disrupt menstrual cycles. Long-term, chronic stress significantly raises the risk of anxiety disorders, depression, diabetes, and obesity.