Can Stress Induce Physical Paralysis?

If 2020 taught us anything, it is that stress can wreak havoc on our lives. Stress is a powerful reaction to stimuli around the body. Job loss, financial problems, medical concerns, and fear of the future can put untold amounts of stress on our bodies. In 2020, sadly, the suicide rate among Americans sky-rocketed as many people were unable to cope with the stress that the COVID-19 pandemic brought into their lives. While stress and fear of the future can cause you to feel stuck, are there physical reactions to stress that can cause facial paralysis?

We’ve all heard the term “paralyzed by stress.” Maybe you’ve experienced it, too. It’s a term used to describe the times when you are so overly stressed that you feel that you cannot do anything – you can’t make a decision, you can’t concentrate, and maybe you feel that you can’t even get out of bed to face the trials of the day. Stress anxiety is a form of mental paralysis. Your body reacts to stress, and psychologically, you are unable to handle what life throws at you. You can feel trapped and unable to cope, which can cause a physical lack of movement.

Yet, with all the stress you may be under, New York Facial Paralysis Diagnosis, Medical, and Surgical Treatment can assure you that this stress cannot cause permanent paralysis of the face. In rare cases, the body may experience a temporary form of paralysis in the face, arms, or legs. Some individuals are more susceptible to periods of temporary paralysis after exposure to certain triggers, such as stress, trauma, or anxiety. The periodic paralysis can result in severe muscle weakness and the partial or complete inability to move parts of the body. This is typically caused because the brain is so laser-focused on the stressful areas that you can actually “forget” how to move. This is an extreme reaction to stress, and it rarely occurs.

Dr. Teresa O and the New York Facial Paralysis Center team want to encourage anyone who is under extreme stress to seek psychological help. Stress is a natural bodily response, but it should not keep you from living your life. If you suffer from facial paralysis such as Bell’s Palsy, Facial Nerve Paralysis, Flaccid Paralysis, Synkinesis, or other forms of facial paralysis, contact our practice for a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.