Mind your mental health

Women are twice more likely to develop fatal heart complications from mental stress than men. This condition occurs when mental stress causes a reduction in blood supply to the heart. Several other complications such as failure to conceive, miscarriages may also be a result of mental stress.
Stress affects all aspects of your life according to Kizito Wamala, a clinical psychologist at African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV), says no part of the body is immune to it and is likely to affect your emotions, behavior, thinking ability and physical health.

Causes
Different people have different causes for stress but the commonest include financial obligations, lack of employment, divorce, loss of a loved one and failure to meet expectations.
“Women in their mid-20 to late 30s are more vulnerable to these problems,”says Wamala.
The fact that women have multiple roles in society and the fear that they may not be able to fulfill all the obligations makes them become anxious and when they fail to fulfill these responsibilities, they sometimes become stressed.
There are not so many responsibilities and expectations attached to the male counterpart so they will less be affected by these mental problems. All they think of is finances for the family.

How to you know?
Symptoms of stress vary in different people because they have different causes and experiences.
According to Dr Edward Ssempiira, a psychologist at Hope and Beyond rehabilitation centre, the most significant symptoms include having difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind, feeling depressed.
You may get a headache, rapid heartbeat, low energy, forgetfulness and nervousness.
Ssempiira says, “Stressed people easily become agitated, frustrated and moody. They often lose control of their emotions and sometimes avoid being in the presence of their friends. Some people find it hard to sleep due to constant racing thoughts.
Some people may increase their drinking, bite nails, are unable to focus, change in appetite, procrastinating and avoiding responsibilities.

Complications
If you get stressed about something and then it disappears soon, there is no reason for you to worry according to Dr Ssempiira.
However, you have chronic stress; it may trigger many serious health problems, including:
Menstrual problems such as scanty, irregular or missed periods
Failure to conceive due to absence of ovulation and menstrual cycle.