![deeper voice in the morning deeper voice in the morning](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ug5LIAMMcCc/maxresdefault.jpg)
When we are stressed we react both physically and emotionally. It is often these periods of unrecognised stress that begin to take their toll on our health and which can ultimately result in physical symptoms, such as a voice disorder. It can be as simple as just a slow build up of pressure and work overload, when we feel we have too much to do in too little time. However, if we look back over the last few months to a year or so, most of us will have had times when life has managed to get on top of us and we have felt down.
![deeper voice in the morning deeper voice in the morning](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dbqeEdwQ__I/maxresdefault.jpg)
Even positive life events like moving house, having a baby or getting married are usually recognised as stressful but few of us ever see our routine, everyday lives as particularly problematic. Examples would be bereavement, redundancy, serious illness, divorce, family disharmony or a violent assault. When people talk about ‘stress’ we usually think of serious life events that upset us or make us angry or frightened. So why does emotional stress affect our voices and how can this be treated? It can be hard to understand and believe, especially when the specialist explains that the voice problem is likely to be stress related. It is often a shock to be told that nothing is physically wrong with the voice when the symptoms sound and feel severe to the patient. However, often there are no signs of physical damage or disease and only small changes in the way the voice is produced are seen which cannot account for the severity of the voice loss. Examination by an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon may well establish the presence of a disease or abnormality on the vocal folds that can explain the symptoms. Some people find they can barely whisper, while others can sound relatively normal but suffer pain and fatigue whenever they have to use their voices. The severity of the symptoms can vary enormously. Voice disorders can affect your work and social life considerably, causing worry and frustration.
![deeper voice in the morning deeper voice in the morning](https://hips.hearstapps.com/digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/17/11/1489416885-william-the-voice.jpg)
With grateful thanks and acknowledgements for comments, photographs and editing to: Tony Aymat, ENT Surgeon/Laryngologist, Peter Butcher, Consultant Psychologist, Annie Elias, Voice Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Nick Gibbins, ENT Surgeon/Laryngologist, Tom Harris, ENT Surgeon/Laryngologist, John Rubin, ENT Surgeon/Laryngologist. When it isn't just physical: The effects of stress and emotion on the voiceīy Sara Harris, Speech and Language Therapist specialised in Voice Disorders.