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Interesting Facts: How Stress Affects the Brain
08.02.2024 22:00
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:26
It has long been known that chronic stress increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, and in addition, worsens human cognitive function.
How stress affects the brain
The processes that occur in the body under stress are universal and the same for all people.
When we are affected by one or another stressor, changes occur in the brain, the functioning of the endocrine and nervous systems.
Stress hormones – adrenaline and cortisol – are released into the blood.
Stress negatively affects the activity of the prefrontal cortex, weakening the ability to think.
Because of this, a person can quickly react to danger without wasting time evaluating options.
This is very useful when you need to immediately escape from a lion.
However, with chronic stress, it is difficult to maintain clarity of thought.
When your stress lasts much longer, such as when you're struggling financially, your body continues to remain in an alert, reactive state, and this leads to psychological and physical symptoms.
How to restore brain function after stress
Healthy sleep, regular exercise, meditation or breathing practices sometimes help restore the functioning of the nervous system.
However, if the condition is accompanied by severe symptoms, then you cannot do without consulting a doctor and appropriate therapy.
Previously, we talked about the unobvious causes of depression.
