5 Surprising Ways Stress Affects Us
Stress in an unavoidable part of life; we all experience it but what many people don’t realize is how deeply it affects our brain and body.
By understanding how stress shows up in the body and brain, you can take meaningful steps to manage it and protect your long-term health. Below, we’re delving into some of the effects of chronic stress—and what you can do about it.
STRESS CAN SHRINK YOUR BRAIN.
Chronic stress has been shown to reduce the size of your brain, specifically in areas responsible for memory, emotional regulation, and cognitive function, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. This translates to having a harder time thinking clearly, managing emotions, and retaining information. High levels of cortisol, triggered by long-term stress, can also damage and reduce the volume of the brain.
STRESS CAN WEAKEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.
Chronic stress weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to colds, infections, and illnesses. Ever noticed yourself getting sick more often when you’re stressed or maybe it takes you longer to recover? This is because stress hormones like cortisol suppress the effectiveness of immune cells.
STRESS CAN ALTER YOUR DNA.
Chronic stress can alter your DNA through a process called epigenetics, which modifies the way your genes are expressed. One prominent example is that chronic stress has been shown to reduce the length of telomeres, the protective caps at the end of your chromosomes. Shorter telomeres are linked to accelerated aging, increased risk of disease, and shorter lifespan.
STRESS CAN DISRUPT YOUR GUT HEALTH.
The gut and brain are closely connected through the gut-brain axis, you might have even heard the gut being referred to as the “second brain.” Chronic stress can disrupt your digestive system and gut health by reducing the diversity of your microbiome, interfering with nutrient absorption, changing the rate of your digestion, causing gastrointestinal problems, and more.
STRESS CAN AFFECT YOUR SENSES.
High levels of stress can alter your sensory perception. It can either heighten or dull your experience to sensory input. For example, some may experience reduced taste and smell while others may experience increased sensitivity to light and sound. Another example is that chronic stress can change how the brain processes pain signals, potentially intensifying pain perception and lowering pain threshold.
But before you stress about stress (ironic, we know), here are a few things you can do to reduce its impact and protect your health.
1. Laugh more.
Laughter truly is medicine. Genuine laughter reduces cortisol levels and triggers the release of feel-good chemicals like endorphins, which help the body relax and feel better. Laughter can also have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting effects by stimulating production of immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies.
2. Build a strong support network.
Social connection is a powerful buffer against stress. Talking things out with trusted friends, spending quality time with loved ones, or even joining a supportive group can help reduce stress hormones and increase feelings of safety, calm, and belonging.
3. Try Neurofeedback at Brain Resource Center.
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive method of training and rewiring your brain to self-regulate itself more effectively, which is exactly what you want when it comes to managing stress. It can help with guiding your brain to a more relaxed state, learning emotional regulation, improving your stress response, reducing stress-induced physical symptoms, and more.