21/04/2016

12EffectsofChronicStressonYourBrain|BeBrainFit
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12 Effects of Chronic Stress on Your Brain

ByDeaneAlban

BOOSTYOURMEMORY,
FOCUS&MOOD

Chronicstressincreasesthestresshormonecortisolandaffectsmanybrain
functions,puttingyouatriskformanymooddisordersandothermentalissues.
Stressisanunavoidablepartofmodernlife.

Ourindeptharticleshelpimprove
yourcognitiveandmentalhealth.

Therearetwomainkindsofstressacutestressandchronicstressandnotallstressisbad
foryou.

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Acutestressisthereactiontoanimmediatethreat,commonlyknownasthefightorflight
response.

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Oncethethreathaspassed,yourlevelsofstresshormonesreturntonormalwithnolonglasting
effects.
Somedegreeofacutestressisevenconsidereddesirableasitprimesyourbrainforpeak
performance.(1)
Butchronicstressthekindmostofusfacedayin,dayoutisakiller.
90%ofdoctorsvisitsareforstressrelatedhealthcomplaints.(2)
Chronicstressmakesyoumorevulnerabletoeverythingfromcancertothecommoncold.(3)
Thenonstopelevationofstresshormonesnotonlymakesyourbodysick,
itnegativelyimpactsyourbrainaswell.
Whenstressbecomeschronic,itchangesyourbrainsfunctionandevenitsstructuredowntothe
levelofyourDNA.(4)

The Dangers of Cortisol

Beforewelookatthemanywayschronicstressaffectsyourbrain,weneedtotalkalittlebit
aboutstresshormones.
Epinephrine(alsoknownasadrenaline)andnorepinephrinearestresshormonesproducedonan
asneededbasisinmomentsofextremeexcitement.
Theyhelpyouthinkandmovefastinanemergency.
Intherightsituation,theycansaveyourlife.
Theydontlingerinthebody,dissipatingasquicklyastheywerecreated.
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Cortisol,ontheotherhand,streamsthroughyoursystemalldaylong,andthatswhatmakes
itsodangerous.

AntiStressColoringBooksSeeAmazon.comforbestselectionandvalue
Thisstresshormonehasbeencalledpublicenemy#1.(5)
Excesscortisolleadstoahostofhealthproblemsincludingweightgain,osteoporosis,digestive
problems,hormoneimbalances,cancer,heartdisease,anddiabetes.(6,7,8)
Chronicstresstakesatollonadrenalglands.
Itcanleavingyoufeelingexhaustedandwiredbuttired.(9)
Weightgain,moodswings,poorsleep,shortattentionspan,andmemoryissuesarecommon
signsofstressduetoelevatedcortisol.(10)

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The Effects of Chronic Stress onYour Brain

Whilestressandcortisoltakeatollonyourbody,theytakeanequallyhightollonyourbrain.
Someofthesebrainrelatedstresssymptomswillbeobvioustoyou,likememoryproblems,
anxiety,andworry.
Butmostoftheseeffectsofstressonyourbrainarebehindthescenes.
Youdontnoticetheyrehappeningbutyouwillnoticethesideeffectseventually.
Hereare12wayschronicstressimpactsyourbrainhealthandmentalwellbeingalongwith
simplestepsyoucantaketocounteractthedamage.
RelatedarticlesonBeBrainFit
15StressManagementTechniquesThatWorkWellandFast
UsingProgressiveMuscleRelaxationtoMinimizeStress

1. Stress creates free radicals that killbrain cells.

Cortisolcreatesasurplusoftheneurotransmitterglutamate.(11)
Glutamatecreatesfreeradicalsunattachedoxygenmoleculesthatattackbraincellsmuchin
thesamewaythatoxygenattacksmetal,causingittorust.(12)
Freeradicalsactuallypunchholesinthebraincellwalls,causingthemtoruptureanddie.

AntioxidantSupplementsSeeAmazon.comforbestselectionandvalue
Stressalsoindirectlycontributestootherlifestylehabitsthatcreatemorefreeradicals.
Ifstresscausesyoutolosesleep,eatjunkfood,drinktoomuchalcohol,orsmokecigarettesto
relax,thesearecontributingtoyourfreeradicalload.

2. Chronic stressmakes you forgetful and emotional.

Memoryproblemsmaybeoneofthefirstsignsofstressyoullnotice.(13)
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Misplacedkeysandforgottenappointmentshave
youscrambling,furtheraddingtoyourstress.

OptiMindAsinglesupplementforbetterthinking,
mentalenergy,productivity,andmood
Ifyoufindallthisstressismakingyoumore
emotionaltoo,theresaphysiologicalreasonfor
this.
Studiesshowthatwhenyourestressed,electricalsignalsinthebrainassociatedwithfactual
memoriesweakenwhileareasinthebrainassociatedwithemotionsstrengthen.(14)

3. Stresscreates a vicious cycle of fear and anxiety.

Stressbuildsupanareaofyourbraincalledtheamygdala.
Thisisyourbrainsfearcenter.
Stressincreasesthesize,activitylevelandnumberofneuralconnectionsinthispartofyour
brain.
Thismakesyoumorefearful,causingaviciouscycleofevenmorefearandstress.(15)

AntiAnxietySupplementsSeeAmazon.comforbestselectionandvalue
4. Stress halts the productionof new brain cells.
Everydayyoulosebraincells,buteverydayyouhavetheopportunitytocreatenewones.
Brainderivedneurotrophicfactor(BDNF)isaproteinthatsintegralinkeepingexistingbrain
cellshealthyandstimulatingnewbraincellformation.
Itcanbethoughtofasfertilizerforthebrain.
BDNFcanoffsetthenegativeeffectsofstressonthebrain.(16)
ButcortisolhaltstheproductionofBDNFresultinginfewernewbraincellsbeingformed.(17)
LoweredlevelsofBDNFareassociatedwithbrainrelatedconditionsincludingdepression,OCD,
schizophrenia,dementia,andAlzheimersdisease.(18)
RelatedarticlesonBeBrainFit
ProvenHerbalRemediesforNaturalAnxietyRelief
BreathingExercisesforAnxietyRelief
AntiStressColoringBooksforAdults:TheLatestWaytoRelax

5. Stressdepletes critical brain chemicals causing depression.

Yourbraincellscommunicateviachemicalscalledneurotransmitters.
Chronicstressreduceslevelsofcriticalneurotransmitters,especiallyserotoninanddopamine.
(19,20)
Lowlevelsofeitheroftheseneurotransmitterscanleaveyoudepressedandmoreproneto
addictions.
Serotoniniscalledthehappymolecule.
Itplaysalargeroleinmood,learning,appetitecontrol,andsleep.

SerotoninBoostingSupplementsSeeAmazon.comforbestselectionandvalue
Womenlowinserotoninareproneto
depression,anxiety,andbingeeating.(21,22,23)
Men,ontheotherhand,aremoreproneto
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alcoholism,ADHD,andimpulsecontroldisorders.
(24,25)
Dopamineisthemotivationmolecule.

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Itsinchargeofyourpleasurerewardsystem.
Toolittledopaminecanleaveyou
unfocused,unmotivated,lethargic,anddepressed.

DopamineBoostingSupplementsSee
Amazon.comforbestselectionandvalue
Peoplelowinthisbrainchemicaloftenusecaffeine,
sugar,alcohol,andillicitdrugstotemporarilyboost
theirdopaminelevels.

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Serotoninbaseddepressionisaccompanied
byanxietyandirritability,whiledopaminebased
depressionexpressesitselfaslethargyandlackof
enjoymentoflife.(26)

6. Stress puts you at greater risk formental

illnesses of all kinds.
Therootcauseofmostmentalillnessesisnotyet
understood.
Ifanswersareeverfound,thecauseswillmostlikelybeacomplexvarietyoffactors.
Recentresearchhasdiscoveredphysicaldifferencesinthebrainsofpeoplewithstressdisorders.

StressReliefSupplementsSeeAmazon.comforbestselectionandvalue
Theirratioofthebrainswhitemattertograymatterishigher.(27)
Stresspredisposesyoutodevelopingavarietyofmentalillnessesincludinganxietyandpanic
disorders,depression,PTSD,schizophrenia,bipolardisorder,drugaddictionand
alcoholism.(28,29,30)
RelatedarticlesonBeBrainFit
AutogenicTraining:ADeceptivelyEffectiveRelaxationTechnique
GABA:AKeyNeurotransmitterforStressRelief
AllAboutEssentialOilsforAnxietyRelief

7. Stress makes you stupid.

Stresscancauseyourbraintoseizeupattheworstpossibletimesexams,jobinterviews,and
publicspeakingcometomind.(31)
Thisisactuallyasurvivalmechanism.
Ifyourefacedwithalifeanddeathsituation,instinctandtrainingoverwhelmrationalthought
andreasoning.
Thismightkeepyoufrombeingeatenbyatiger,butinmodernlifethisisrarelyhelpful.
Stressimpairsyourmemoryandmakesyoubadatmakingdecisions.(32,33)
Itnegativelyimpactseverycognitivefunction.(34)

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8. Chronic stress shrinks your brain.

14

Stresscanmeasurablyshrinkyourbrain.
12

Cortisolcankill,shrink,andstopthegenerationofnewneuronsinthehippocampus,thepartof
yourbrainthatstoresmemories.
Thehippocampusiscriticalforlearning,memoryandemotionalregulation,aswellasshutting
offthestressresponseafterastressfuleventisover.(35,36)
Stressalsoshrinkstheprefrontalcortex.
Thisnegativelyaffectsdecisionmaking,workingmemory,andcontrolofimpulsivebehavior.(37)

9. Stress lets toxins into your brain.

Yourbrainishighlysensitivetotoxinsofeverykind.
Thebloodbrainbarrierisagroupofhighlyspecializedcellsthatactsasyourbrainsgatekeeper.
Thissemipermeablefilterprotectsyourbrainfrom
harmfulsubstanceswhilelettingneedednutrients
in.

OptiMindAsinglesupplementforbetterthinking,
mentalenergy,productivity,andmood
Stressmakesthebloodbrainbarriermore
permeable,ineffectmakingitleaky.(38)
Thisletsthingsintothebrainyoudontwantthere
suchaspathogens,heavymetals,chemicals,and
othertoxins.
Havingaleakybloodbrainbarrierisassociatedwithbraincancer,braininfections,andmultiple
sclerosis.(39)
RelatedarticlesonBeBrainFit
ThePowerofGuidedMeditationforAnxietyRelief
BinauralBeats:AMeditationShortcut

10. Chronic stress increases your risk ofdementia and Alzheimers.

Oneofthemostworryingeffectsofstressonthebrainisthatitincreasesyourriskfordementia
andAlzheimers.
BeingdiagnosedwithAlzheimersdiseaseisthe#1healthfearofAmericanadults,evenmoreso
thancancer.
Alzheimersisnowthesixthleadingcauseofdeath.
OneinthreeUSseniorswilldiewithAlzheimersorotherformsofdementia.Anditsthemost
expensivediseaseinthecountry.(40)
ThereisnosimplemagicbullettopreventAlzheimers.

StressReliefSupplementsSeeAmazon.comforbestselectionandvalue
Commonsenseadviceincludeseatingahealthydietlowinsugarandhighinbrainhealthyfats,
gettingphysicalexercise,notsmoking,stayingmentallyactive,avoidingtoxicmetalexposure,
andminimizingstress.(41,42)
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andminimizingstress.(41,42)

12EffectsofChronicStressonYourBrain|BeBrainFit

Itsbeenfoundthatstress,particularlystressthatoccursinmidlife,increasesriskofAlzheimers.
Anxiety,jealousyandmoodinessinmiddleagedoublesyourriskofdevelopingAlzheimers.(43)
Chronicstressandelevatedcortisolcontributestodementiaintheelderlyandhastensits
progression.(44)

11. Stress causes brain cells tocommit suicide.

Stressleadstoprematureagingonacellularlevel,causingcellsinbothyourbodyandyourbrain
tocommitsuicideprematurely.
Tounderstandhowthishappens,weneedtotakealookatapartofyourchromosomescalled
telomeres.
Youmayrecallfromhighschoolbiologythatwhenacelldivides,itpassesonthegeneticmaterial
tothenextcellviachromosomes.
Telomeresareprotectiveendcapsonourchromosomessimilartotheplastictipsonshoelaces.
(Youcanseetelomeresdyedredintheimagetotheleft.)
Everytimeacelldivides,thetelomeresgetalittleshorter.
Whentheyreachacriticallyshortenedlength,theytellthecelltostop
dividing,actingasabuiltinsuicideswitch.
Subsequentlythecelldies.

Zen12Getallthebenefitsofanhouroftraditionalmeditationinjust12minutes
Shortenedtelomeresleadtoatrophyofbraincellsandlongertelomerelengthleadstothe
productionofnewbraincells.(45)
Telomerelengthmaybethemostimportantindicatorofbiologicalageanddiseaserisk.
Someresearchersbelieveitsabetterpredictorofyourriskforagerelateddiseaseslike
Alzheimers,heartdisease,diabetes,andcancerthanconventionaldiagnostictools.(46)

12. Chronic stress contributes to brain inflammation and depression.

Alittleknownfactisthatthebrainhasitsownimmunesystem.
Specialimmunecellscalledmicrogliaprotectthebrainandspinalcordfrominfectionsand
toxins.
Unfortunately,amicroglialcellhasnoonoroffswitch,soonceitisactivated,itcreates
inflammationuntilitdies.
Chronicstressisoneofthefactorsthatincreasestheriskofactivatingyourmicroglia,thus
producingbraininflammation.
Itsgenerallybelievedthatdepressioniscausedbyserotonindeficiency,buttheresagrowing
bodyofevidencethatbraininflammationistherootcauseofdepressioninstead.

AntidepressantSupplementsSeeAmazon.comforbestselectionandvalue
Thistheoryiscalledthecytokinemodelofdepression.
Activatedmicrogliaproducecytokinesproteinsthatturnontheinflammationresponseinthe
brain.(47,48)
Cytokineproductionislinkedtodepressionincludingmajordepressivedisorderandriskof
suicide.(49)
Itsalsoassociatedwithanxiety,memoryloss,andinabilitytoconcentrate,aswellassome
seriousdisordersincludingschizophrenia,Parkinsons,andAlzheimers.(50,51)

On Top of All This

Chronicstressdestroysyourhappinessandpeaceofmind.
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Chronicstressdestroysyourhappinessandpeaceofmind.
Itwearsyoudownmentallyandemotionally,andsapsthejoyfromlife.

OptiMindAsinglesupplementforbetterthinking,mentalenergy,productivity,andmood
Somesideeffectsofstressthatimpactyourmentalwellbeinginclude:
excessiveworryandfear
angerandfrustration
impatiencewithselfandothers
moodswings,cryingspellsorsuicidalthoughts
insomnia,nightmares,disturbingdreams
troubleconcentratingandlearningnewinformation
racingthoughts,nervousness
forgetfulness,mentalconfusion
difficultyinmakingdecisions
feelingoverwhelmed
irritabilityandoverreactiontopettyannoyances
excessivedefensivenessorsuspicion
increasedsmoking,alcohol,druguse,gamblingorimpulsebuying
Itsnofunexperiencingthesestresssymptoms.Itsnopicnicforthosearoundyoueither.

5 Simple Steps to Help a Chronically Stressed Brain

Wewouldntleaveyouwithallthisbadnewswithnosolutions.
Minimizingstressandprotectingyourbrainagainstitseffectsiseasierthanyoumightthink.
Herearefivesimpletipstostopstressinitstracksandovercomeitsharmfuleffectsonyour
brain.
1.Stopfreeradicaldamagebyeatingadiethighinantioxidantrichfoodslikefruit,
vegetables,darkchocolate,andgreentea.
2.IncreaselevelsofbrainboostingBDNFbygettingdailyphysicalexercise.Itdoesnthave
tobestrenuous.Walkingisexcellent.Soareexerciseswithstrongmindbody
orientationslikeyoga,taichi,andqigong.
3.Startadailymeditationpractice.Meditationnotonlyreducesstress,itsaprovenwayto
keepyourbrainyoungbykeepingtelomereslong.(52)Meditationisalsothebesttool
forlearninghowtomasteryourthoughts.Stressdoesnotcomefromeventsinyourlifeas
muchasitcomesfromyourthoughtsyourautomaticnegativereactionsandcognitive
distortionsabouttheseevents.
4.Tryoneofthemanymindbodyrelaxationtechniquessuchasselfhypnosis,biofeedback,
orautogenictraining.
5.Lookintotakinganadaptogenicherbalremedy.Adaptogensincreaseyourresilienceto
stresswhilesupportingoverallhealth.Theypromotebalancebetweenfeelingenergetic
andfeelingcalm.Examplesofadaptogensincludeginseng,holybasil,Arcticroot,and
bacopa.
Chronicstressmayseemtobeanunavoidablepartoflife,buttheseproactivestepswilldefinitely
reduceitswearandtearonyourbrain.
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12EffectsofChronicStressonYourBrain|BeBrainFit

effective,safeandnaturalbrainenhancerswe
know.
Theseenhancersworkwithyourbrain'sown

neurotransmitterstoreallyimproveyourthinking,
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Betterthinkingin1hour,naturally
Deane&Dr.Pat

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