Can stress result in illnesses lasting longer?

Although stress has beneficial values (such as when encountering something dangerous, the so called "fight or flight response"), when stress is allowed to get out of control, it can cause severe and long lasting effects on the body. Stress can act as an immune modulator, causing the immune system to function at less than optimal levels. Not only can stress cause illnesses to be drawn out for longer periods of time, stress can decrease the body`s natural ability to fight illness causing a higher risk for feeling the effects of illness in a person who is chronically stressed when compared with someone who does not have as high levels of stress. Initial treatments for stress include deep breathing, meditation, exercise, biofeedback, yoga and massage therapy amongst other methods. If these treatments do not work, or if you feel that stress is getting out of control, consider seeing your primary care physician who may be able to recommend other forms of stress management, or perhaps medications that help alleviate anxiety. You may also consider psychiatrists or other medical professionals who are able to assist you with speech therapy, biofeedback, and other forms of stress relief as these methods have also been shown to alleviate stress.