Warning: Watch Your Stress Level

byPBitzer

564 followers

8 years ago

Constant stress can actually change the size of your brain and make it smaller?

If stress becomes chronic, it changes your brain’s function and even its structure. Some of these brain-related stress symptom are memory problems, anxiety, and worry. Stress creates free radical that kill brain cells. Free radicalspunch holes in the brain cell walls, causing them to rupture and die. Memory problems may be one of the first signs of stress you’ll notice.

Stress builds up an area of your brain called the amygdala your brain’s fear center. Studies show that when you’re stressed, electrical signals in the brain associated with factual memories weaken while areas in the brain associated with emotions strengthen.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, can kill, shrink, and stop the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus, the part of your brain that stores memories. The hippocampus is critical for learning, memory and emotional regulation, as well as shutting off the stress response after a stressful event is over.

Stress also shrinks the prefrontal cortex. This negatively affects decision making, working memory, and control of impulsive behavior.

You must practice some stress relief techniques like deep breathing, meditation, nature walks, self-hypnosis and biofeedback. Keeping stress levels manageable will definitely reduce the wear and tear on your brain.