Do you sometimes suddenly forget a very common word? Or do you suddenly lose focus while doing an important task and forget what you were doing? Have you ever thought that the reason for these things could be the excessive mental stress in your busy life, that is, the stress that we all know? Today we are talking about this very important topic.
What is the relationship between stress and cognitive ability?
First, let's look at what this so-called cognitive ability is. Simply put, this is the ability of our brain to think, reason, solve problems, plan, learn new things, and pay attention. It's like the main operating system in our brain.
A recent large study found something very frightening. That is, people who live with high levels of stress for a long time have a 37% higher risk of developing cognitive decline . This was found after taking into account other unhealthy habits, such as smoking. This means that this effect is directly caused by stress.
Just think, your stress can not only give you a headache , but it can also gradually reduce your ability to think and remember.
We generally know that stress can lead to physical illnesses like stroke. But this new research suggests something even more profound. It suggests that stress directly damages the way our brain functions.
This isn't just memory loss - it's a dangerous vicious cycle!
Experts describe this situation as a "vicious cycle." That is, a series of events that are interconnected and make the situation worse. Think of it this way.
1. You are experiencing stress : a problem at work, a family problem, a financial problem... it could be anything.
2. Hormones are released from the brain: In response to this pressure, the brain releases stress hormones.
3. The brain's "manager" is impaired: These hormones go directly to and affect the front part of our brain, the prefrontal cortex . This is like the "chief executive officer" of our brain. All the important functions of planning, making decisions, controlling emotions, and focusing are done here. When stress comes, this part stops working properly.
4. Immediate result: You suddenly become unable to think, forget small things, and lose focus .
5. Long-term damage: When this happens continuously, that is , chronic stress , the gray matter in this frontal part of the brain begins to disappear, meaning brain cells begin to die.
6. The most dangerous part of the vicious cycle: The sad thing is, this part of the brain that gets damaged is the part that tells you, "I'm stressed out right now, I need help, I need to calm down."
Simply put, it's like damaging your car's brake system and causing the brake warning light to come on at the same time. There's a problem, but the very system that helps you understand the problem and find a solution is being disabled. This is why when stress increases, it becomes even harder to control .
| The effect of pressure | How are you feeling? |
|---|---|
| Immediate Effect | I can't keep my mind in one place. I get angry over small things. I forget words. I have trouble making decisions. |
| Long-term Effect | Important parts of the brain (gray matter) shrink. Memory can be permanently impaired. The risk of diseases such as dementia increases. |
| Vicious Cycle | The ability to control stress gradually disappears, and it becomes difficult to realize that they have a problem. |
Is this something that cannot be prevented? Absolutely not!
This may sound scary to you, but the good news is that stress is a modifiable factor. That means we can reverse it or prevent it from getting worse.
What should we do?
1. Recognition: The first thing is to admit to yourself, "I'm stressed." Pay attention to symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, frequent irritability, and forgetting everything.
2. Talk: Don't keep your problems bottled up inside. Talk to a trusted friend or family member about it. It's a great way to relieve the burden on your mind.
3. Rest and sleep: It is essential to get a good night's sleep of 7-8 hours a day. Also, take a short break between work. Do something you enjoy - listen to a song, read a book, take a walk in the garden.
4. Exercise: Do at least 30 minutes of exercise every day that makes you sweat. It can be walking, running, or swimming. Exercise reduces stress hormones and produces endorphins, which are hormones that make you happy.
5. Meditation and breathing exercises: Practicing deep breathing for 10-15 minutes a day can be very calming.
The most important thing is, if you find it difficult to manage this stress on your own, never be shy or shy away from talking to a doctor about it. Mental health is just as important as physical health and something we should value. Asking for help is not a weakness, it is a strength.
Your brain is your most valuable asset. It's up to you to protect it from being destroyed by stress.
Take-Home Message
- Stress isn't just a feeling in your mind. It can physically damage your brain.
- Excessive stress directly impairs your memory, thinking ability, learning, and attention.
- This is a "vicious cycle." That is, stress damages the very part of the brain that helps control stress.
- The good news is that stress is something we can change. It can be managed through exercise, good sleep, relaxation, and talking to others.
- If you find it difficult to cope on your own, never hesitate to seek medical advice. It's the best decision you can make for your health.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න