Stress is your body’s natural response to a difficult situation. The truth is that everyone experiences stress in some form from time to time. From everyday responsibilities at work to serious life events such as an accident or the death of a loved one; the body tends to see all of these situations the same way and will trigger an immediate stress response with varying effects on the body.
The body’s response to a stressful situation (caused by the release of stress hormones) has short-term beneficial effects. However, if this is allowed to continue due to a consistently stressful lifestyle, it will begin to take a toll on your health.
While you’ve probably heard about all the many ways stress can be bad for your body, most people have very limited knowledge of how much stress can impact their brain. In this post, we’ll explore the potential impacts of a constantly stressful lifestyle on the human brain.
How Does The Brain Respond To Stress?
People rarely consider the impact of stress on brain health. This is particularly interesting because most of the body’s response to a stressful situation begins in the brain. When you’re faced with stress, your brain sends out a series of signals triggering the release of certain hormones that get the body ready to protect itself from threats.
Stress is an essential part of the body’s complex natural alarm system. When faced with a perceived threat or difficult situation, a tiny portion of the human brain known as the hypothalamus sets off an alarm in the body that prompts the adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones; primarily adrenaline and cortisol.
Cortisol, which is the main stress hormone, increases sugar in the bloodstream and enhances the brain’s ability to stay alert and make instant decisions. Cortisol will also slow down the body’s non-essential functions in a stressful situation. The hormones typically return to normal levels once the perceived threat passes. However, when stressors are constantly present in a person’s life, the body is put in a long-term fight or flight mode which can have several debilitating effects on brain health.
Brain health professionals such as psychologists and licensed behavioral health therapists can help you navigate the challenges of a stressful lifestyle on your brain. Several sites post neuropathologist jobs and other online platforms where you can find or connect with brain health professionals.
Effects Of A Stressful Lifestyle On The Brain
While short-term stress is necessary (and even good) for the brain, chronic stress, or a permanently stressful lifestyle will eventually start taking its toll on your overall health. A stressful relationship with no boundaries, lack of work-life balance, or becoming a new parent are some of the constantly stressful situations a person can be exposed to. The brain is one of the parts of the body most affected by prolonged exposure to these stressful situations. Some of the negative effects of a permanently stressful lifestyle on brain health include:
Stress Kills Brain Cells
The hormones released in stressful situations can destroy brain neurons, especially those that have just been newly formed. The region of the brain that is most affected by this is the hippocampus. This is the part of the brain where the formation of new brain cells (neurogenesis) tends to occur throughout a person’s life. Stress can slow down or even halt the production of new neurons in the hippocampus, and this can have various effects on memory, learning and emotion regulation.
Increased Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases
When the body is constantly exposed to the stress hormone, cortisol, it increases the production of glutamate. This is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in mood regulation and various cognitive functions. An elevated level of glutamate has been identified as one of the factors that contribute to a high risk of developing neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s as a person ages.
Stress Changes The Brain Structure
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and change throughout a person’s life. The brain’s ability to change plays an important role in a person’s ability to evolve and learn new things. Chronic stress levels can negatively impact the brain’s structure, leading to various life-altering results.
For instance, stress can affect the balance between gray matter (the part of the brain responsible for thinking and problem-solving) and white matter (the region of the brain that communicates information).
Chronic stress leads to the overproduction of myelin, the white shite that speeds electrical signals and communication in the brain. This can have a lasting impact on how an individual’s brain processes information and makes decisions. Changes in the brain structure cause cognitive impairment and memory problems in the long run.
Exposure to stressful situations over a long period has also been linked to small gray matter, especially in the prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain responsible for self-control and emotions, leading to a wide range of behavioral problems.
Conclusion
When most people think about the adverse effects of stress, the focus is often on intense, life-altering events such as accidents or traumatic experiences. However, continued exposure to everyday stress can have a considerable effect on brain health over time. To protect your brain and body from the harmful effects of stress, consider speaking to a healthcare provider to get much-needed help.
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