Stress and the Brain: How does stress affect the Brain?

What are some effects of stress towards your brain?

The brain is a complex organ. It is the main controller of our body, and it can be affected in a variety of ways, such as by stress. Stress is the tension and the anxiousness that one feels and can occur for several reasons and result in many different forms. It can have both short and long-term effects on the brain. The impacts of stress can be demonstrated in both positive and negative ways. For example:

Positive Effects:

• stress helps with dealing some major events more effectively

• stress motivates us to develop ourselves

• stress can change our brain's functions, such as developing our creativities

Negative Effects:

• stress can weaken our memory, and people who are stressed are less likely to remember detailed informations

• stress can shrink the areas of the brain that controls emotions and memories

• stress can easily lead to mental illness

So, HOW does stress affect the brain?

According to psychcentral, the response first starts in your brain, where it is specifically called amygdala. Amygdala is a part of the brain that associates with emotions and memories that deals with fear. The Amygdala then sends a signal to the hypothalamus, which is another part of the brain that regulates many functions of the body, such as the body temperature or the heart rate. Afterwards, the hypothalamus would activate a nervous system as an alert, which makes one ready to face a threat. At last, the hypothalamus would activate another stress response system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), which keeps the nervous systems on a high alert for another stress response.

Then what are some methods to protect ourselves from damaging stress?

According to Health Harvard Publishing, some ways to protect

our brains from stress is by:

Getting some control over the situation

As getting stressed can happen in anonymous times, controlling them could be a great option, as one said, "predictability combats stress."

Getting organized

Using strategies, notes, lists, can also reduce stress, as one will not feel overwhelmed with their responsibilities. Moreover, creating lists will allow you to know where you are in the process.

Getting help if you need it.

Though asking for help can be challenging and overwhelming, it can be a great and a successful way in managing stress. Asking for help would not only lead one towards a less stressful life, but it would also create a strong bond in a relationship with one's surroundings.

Works cited:

• https://www.gr8ness.com/stress-can-have-positive-effects/

• https://premierneurologycenter.com/blog/6-ways-stress-affects-your-brain/#:~:text=Stress%20Shrinks%20the%20Brain,metabolism%2C%20and%20memory%20to%20shrink.

• https://psychcentral.com/stress/our-brain-on-stress-forgetful-emotional#body-response

• https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/protect-your-brain-from-stress

Image:

• https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/gr3ADNsoRLmUS_UzpeOysUPpqDs=/614x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/167460106-56a796a53df78cf7729767a9.jpg

By: Soheon (Sharon) Park