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Chronic Stress

Jancy Zhang

There are lots of negative effects that chronic stress can bring to our brains. Memory loss is one of the effects of prolonged stress that researchers have seen. People who are under stress frequently forget things. According to research, even a little stress, like being late for work, may make you forget basic things like where your keys are. High cortisol levels have even been linked to deficits in short-term memory in research on aged rats. The core theory is that the brain is diverting its resources because it is in survival mode, not memory mode, according to Dr. Kerry Ressler, chief scientific officer at McLean Hospital and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Both gray matter and white matter make up your brain. White matter connects brain regions and conveys information, while gray matter is used for decision-making and problem-solving. Chronic stress has been shown to lead to an overproduction of the myelin sheaths that make up white matter and a decrease in the production of gray matter. A gray matter and white matter imbalance could result in permanent changes to the brain’s structure. The emergence of mental illness may also be influenced by an imbalance between white and gray matter in the brain. According to the notion, the timing and balance of communication are hampered when some brain regions have an abundance of myelin. Additionally, it was discovered that persistent stress can harm hippocampus function. Memory, notably spatial memory, memory consolidation, and memory transmission, are all regulated by the hippocampus.

Researchers have proposed that long-term stress can even damage developing neurons in the hippocampus of the brain. One of only two places where neurons are made is the hippocampus.Even though it does not appear to have an impact, new neurons created during stressful times have a higher chance of dying within a week, according to studies.

While the size of the brain as a whole tends to stay roughly the same, it has been discovered that persistent stress in otherwise healthy people can lead to shrinkage of the brain's regions responsible for emotions, metabolism, and memory. When exposed to severe stressors, those with chronic stress were also more likely to undergo brain shrinkage. This implies that those who are constantly stressed out may find it more difficult to handle additional stress.

So what could we do if we want to relieve our stress? Here are some tips:

  1. Exercise

  2. Eat a health diet

  3. Meditate

  4. Play some relaxing music

  5. Reach for help

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