Your Body Is Trying to Tell You Something
We often talk about stress as if it exists only in the mind.
We say:
“I have a lot going on.”
“I am just tired.”
“I will feel better when things settle down.”
But what if things never really settle down?
Stress does not remain in your calendar, your thoughts, or your circumstances. It travels through your body.
When your brain senses danger, it activates an internal alarm system. Your heart beats faster. Your breathing changes. Your muscles tighten. Hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are released to help you respond.
That response is designed to protect you.
The problem begins when the alarm does not turn off.
Prolonged stress can affect sleep, digestion, concentration, mood, heart rate, blood pressure, and immune function, according to the American Psychological Association.
Your body may speak through headaches, muscle tension, disrupted sleep, digestive problems, irritability, exhaustion, or difficulty concentrating.
We often dismiss these signals because we have become accustomed to them.
Functioning Is Not the Same as Being Well
Many women have become highly skilled at functioning under stress.
We handle the meeting. Care for the family. Solve the problem. Meet the deadline. Show up for everyone else.
Because we are still functioning, we assume we are fine.
But functioning is not the same as being well.
Some women are not carrying too much because they lack boundaries. They are carrying too much because people genuinely depend on them. The responsibilities may be necessary, but they still carry a physical cost when the body never has an opportunity to recover.
Your ability to endure does not mean the cost is acceptable.
When “I’m Fine” Becomes Dangerous
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Stroke is also a leading cause of death and serious disability among women.
Chronic stress is not the sole cause of a heart attack or stroke. However, it may raise heart rate and blood pressure, interfere with sleep, and contribute to other cardiovascular risks. The American Heart Association warns that chronic stress may contribute to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Women may not always recognize the warning signs of a heart attack. In addition to chest pain, symptoms may include unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, or pain in the back, neck, jaw, shoulder, or arm. These symptoms may occur with or without chest pain.
Stroke symptoms may include sudden weakness or numbness, confusion, difficulty speaking, trouble seeing, dizziness, loss of balance, or a severe unexplained headache.
The statistics are especially sobering for Black women. The CDC reports that African American women are more likely to die from stroke than non-Hispanic White women or Hispanic women.
This is not written to frighten you.
It is written to interrupt the belief that taking care of yourself can continue to wait.
Exhaustion is not a badge of honor.
Busyness is not a measure of worth.
Rest is a requirement.
Your life and your health are happening now.
BREAKING UP WITH STRESS
On Monday, September 21, I am hosting BREAKING UP WITH STRESS, a 60-minute live guided experience for women over 40.
Bring one burden. Leave with one decision, the words to communicate it, and a next step you have practiced.
You may arrive carrying something privately, but you will not be the only woman ready for change.
Monday, September 21, 2026
7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET
Live Online
$39 per participant
Space is limited. This is a live experience, and no recording will be provided.
Stress may have become familiar, but it does not have to remain in charge.
Your body has been speaking. It is time to listen.
This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice. New, severe, or sudden symptoms should not be self-diagnosed. If you experience possible signs of a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately.
