Long-term stress cam lead to a variety of serious mental illnesses. Depression, an extreme
feeling of sadness and hopelessness, can be the result of continued and increasing stress. Alcoholism and other additions often develop as a result of overuse of alcohol or drugs to try to relieve stress. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, are sometimes caused by stress and are often made worse by stress. If stress in allowed to continue, then one's mental health is put at risk.