I can’t sleep? Don’t want to move? Always forget things? Easy to freak out? Feeling lonely?
Don’t be sad, you are not alone, many people are like you.
We’re just under a lot of pressure.
How did [pressure] come about?
Stress is not a bad thing. Moderate stress can make us perform better. For example, when taking part in sports meetings and giving speeches on stage, do you also feel that moderate tension will make people perform better?
When we face [emergency], tissues near the brain and kidney will be activated, thus releasing a hormone called [cortisol].
Cortisol helps us stimulate more energy and concentrate more so that we can get through [danger].
This hormone-releasing system is called the [HPA axis].
Chronic stress impairs health
As mentioned earlier, moderate stress is good, but long-term chronic stress is not so [lovely].
For example, if we overwork or family conflicts are not resolved for a long time, we will feel continuous pressure.
As the brain continues to judge that the present is an [emergency], the HPA axis of the human being continues to be [activated], and the cortisol level in the body has been on the high side.
We said in an article before that it is not good for health (click to view); What we want to tell you today is that it is not good for the brain either.
In general, the effects of cortisol on the brain include:
- Degeneration of function; Structural atrophy; Abnormal gene expression.
Chronic stress affects brain function
Chronic stress will reduce the connection between nerve cells in a region of the brain called the amygdala.
The amygdala is our [emotional center]. Chronic stress brings us [numbness] [emotional confusion] through this way.
Chronic stress can also degrade a function of the brain called the hippocampus.
The hippocampus is the center of the brain responsible for controlling learning function, memory function and stress control. This is why we feel [stupid] [memory is getting worse and worse] [anger is getting bigger and bigger].
The normal hippocampus can make the HPA axis [producing pressure] less active, but as soon as it degenerates, the inhibition of the HPA axis decreases and people are more easily controlled by pressure.
Chronic stress changes brain structure
Excessive amount of cortisol will reduce the connection between nerve cells of the whole brain, which may confuse all kinds of well-performed functions of the brain. Generally speaking, people will think [I can’t even do such a simple job].
Under the action of chronic stress, the brain structure with more obvious atrophy may be [prefrontal lobe region].
This is the headquarters of the [headquarters] of the brain. The brain regions responsible for concentration, decision-making, thinking and smooth communication with people are all here. The shrinkage of structure means the degradation of function.
You have nothing to say to anyone? Do you find it difficult to make decisions? One thing is distracted when you do it? Don’t feel strange now… … …
Earlier we talked about the degeneration of hippocampal function. Under the influence of cortisol, its structure is also abnormal. The main change is that the number of neurons decreases.
However, this change has a lot to do with the occurrence of many mental and neurological diseases, such as depression, such as Alzheimer’s disease (formerly known as [senile dementia]). Is it extremely possible to think carefully?
Chronic stress alters gene expression
Some researchers have experimented with mice and found that [high pressure] can be [inherited] for several generations.
You may be surprised: such things as [stress] can also be written into genes and passed on to future generations?
This [heredity] is not what we know more about passing from parents to children through chromosomes, but the inheritance of gene expression-that is to say, the [genetic material] such as chromosomes has not changed, what has changed is the expression of genetic material.
Biologists call this method [epigenetics], which is obviously influenced by the environment. In nature, there are many examples of epigenetics. There is a book called “Endless Form is the Most Beautiful”, which is about epigenetics in biology-not Darwin’s book, but the work of contemporary biologists.
Are we still saved?
Don’t be afraid, of course we still have help.
If you feel that you are too fit for the above-mentioned performances, you can do at least two things to bring your brain back to life:
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See a psychiatrist and receive medication if necessary.
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Insist on exercise and fitness, so that the body can better control pressure in this way.
Of course, you can also pay attention to [psychologist] (micro signal: Xinlijibing) and find ways to let the pressure [go].
In short, we can still do a lot of work to control the pressure and make it [useful and harmless] before the pressure completely controls us.