I recently went through a personal crisis and found myself obsessing about it. Every waking minute was consumed with thoughts about the situation. I went over it and over it, all day, everyday until I thought I was losing my mind. While individuals with generalized anxiety disorder are prone to constant worry, everyone can fall prey to ruminating or obsessing when faced with a difficult situation.

You are about to walk on stage to deliver a presentation to a full auditorium of your colleagues and superiors. Sure you are prepared, but the thought of public speaking causes you to feel weak in the knees and your stomach to fill up with butterflies. Stress is never pleasant, but it is a fact of life and has even been known to inspire creativity, problem solving skills, and competitive drive. But what about the effects of chronic stress? Mind and body work together to keep a person healthy, but if either are compromised the interaction of the two can have serious consequences. Here is how chronic stress can affect all areas of your body.