Stress is a state of mental tension that occurs in response to unfavourable external conditions.
There is short-term stress that affects a person for a certain (short) period of time; usually the body reacts by short-term release of stress hormones, which, in turn, speeds up and improves memory, muscle activity, etc. There seems to be nothing wrong with stress. And that may indeed be true. Short-term stress, where a child or adult has enough internal or external resources to withstand it and get out of the situation, i.e. adapt, does not cause any harm to the body.
But we are here to talk about the impact of prolonged, long-term stress on a person.
Scientists conducted experiments on mice and found that prolonged exposure to cortisol (the so-called “stress hormone”) affects brain cells, stopping the formation of new ones and even destroying those that already exist.
So, let’s take a closer look at what happens in the brain and how it affects cognitive function. As we have already found out, cortisol is released during stress. This happens because the hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland about the danger, and the latter regulates all the hormonal capabilities of our body: it sends a signal to the adrenal glands that directly produce adrenaline and cortisol, sends a signal to the pancreas to increase blood insulin, because cortisol and adrenaline increase the amount of glucose in the blood, and so on. Therefore, prolonged stress can affect all hormonal processes.
Further, cortisol accumulates in the brain. This negatively affects the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and emotional state. That’s why children and adults have a harder time remembering new information and forgetting old ones, and their emotional state worsens.
Long-term stress affects the size of the amygdala and its functioning. It is the amygdala that regulates the response to stress. It grows in size and seems to lose the ability to distinguish between real and unreal dangers. This can lead to increased anxiety and other anxiety reactions, such as panic attacks.
Stress hormones also affect the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for all higher mental functions, such as attention, thinking, planning, etc. An adult may experience difficulties in making conscious decisions, while children may have less control over their behaviour, and learning skills may deteriorate.
Stress affects the brain’s ability to form new neurons and “weave” networks, which impairs the brain’s ability to adapt to new situations.
Thus, prolonged stress affects all cognitive functions. Moreover, it changes the structure of the brain. Therefore, it is difficult for adults and children to
⁃ memorise;
⁃ work and study BEFORE stress, because the brain gets tired faster;
⁃ make conscious decisions;
⁃ control some emotional reactions;
⁃ quickly adapt to new conditions.
To be able to cope with stress better, it is important to follow a few rules that will improve your condition.
Alisa Lokhmachova, a psychologist, neuropsychologist, teacher, and the CPH “Confidence” specialist, advises:
- Take care of your own health: eat as balanced a diet as possible, get enough sleep and walks.
- Have a quality rest. For children and adults alike – spend time without gadgets doing what you love.
- Take care of your own psychological state: do meditation, exercise, breathing exercises.
- For parents: try not to create additional stress for your children in the form of a bunch of activities. Take care of emotional health in your own home.
