Question: @Alex Can teenagers get physically ill from stress from their mental health?

Alex Spiers answered on 21 Nov 2019:

Sadly people with higher levels of stress and adversity in their life tend to be more likely to get cancer and other diseases when they older, and also more likely to get heart disease. We think this might be because people with poorer mental health are not as likely to be offered help to give up smoking, reduce alcohol consumption and make positive adjustments to their diet, and are less likely to visit their doctor for check-ups.

People with depression are less likely to exercise, which increases the risk of heart disease. People with depression and anxiety also have physical symptoms. In anxiety disorders people can feel dizzy, nauseous or have digestive disorders such as diarrhoea or cramping.