Do you know what really happens to you when you are stressed?

-


[cont..]

The two areas of the brain that are mainly affected by stress are the Pre-frontal cortex and the Hippocampus. Pre-frontal cortex is the area of the brain that is right behind our forehead and the hippocampus is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. These areas are responsible for human intellect functions, executive functions, planning, memory, learning, time management, basic organizational skills, self-control and emotional well-being. 

As we age Pre-frontal Cortex is sensitive to thinning which results in impaired memory and cognitive decline. The thinning process of Pre-frontal Cortex accelerates when you are under stress for a long period of time. Further, due to stress there is an increase in activities in the primitive parts of the brain such as Amygdala. Amygdala is commonly known as part of the brain that plays a role in processing fear. When the level of fear increases it increases the anxiety level of oneself. 

Other problems we face due to stress includes increased acidity in the body, digestive problems, increase acne, low sex drive, lack of sleep etc. 

How can we decrease stress? 

Meditation is one way that helps you to decrease stress level. It also helps you to improve brain function . There are several studies conducted to prove if there is any direct co-relation between size of the brain and mediation. According to Lazar, S.W. et al. (2005) “The average cortical thickness of 40 to 50 year old meditation participants was similar to the average thickness of the 20 to 30 year old non-meditators.” 

Another study conducted by Luders, R. (2013) states that “…provide preliminary data suggesting that meditation may slow, stall or even reverse age-related brain degeneration.” Thus, by adopting specific life style choices such as meditation helps to manage stress and minimize the thinning of Pre-frontal cortex due to aging.

There are several other methods to decrease your stress level such as journaling, exercising and breathing techniques.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Becoming the Woman I Needed: A Birthday Reflection for Every Soul Still Becoming

-
Image
Today is more than a birthday. It is a celebration of the woman I have become, and the woman I continue to grow into. This message is not only for me. It is for you — for the women and men who are silently carrying battles the world never sees. Some of us smile while carrying invisible weight. This is for those hearts, and also for those who speak without knowing what others are going through. Let this be a lesson to pause, to listen, and to choose kindness. I grew up without a father figure. That absence created a gap, but my mother filled it with her strength. She was both mother and father. Her resilience shaped me. She taught me that love and responsibility are not about roles, but about action. Watching her lead our lives gave me the foundation to walk tall, even when my knees felt weak. In 2012, I made a painful decision. I was just four months away from completing my degree when my baby became critically unwell. There was no one else to care for the child, so I stepped back from...
Read more

Finding Strength in Uncertainty: Lessons of Inner Peace and Spiritual Growth

-
Image
 As I stepped out of the home I had lived in for 19 years, with two debts in my name, I was afraid of what the future held. Having never experienced living with others, moving into a new home with unfamiliar people frightened me even more than the financial burden I carried. I believe in not boasting about the good we do, so I’ll leave out the details of why the debts were under my name. Regardless, this was the moment in my life when I had to gather all my strength to survive, knowing it was just a temporary phase that would eventually pass. I worked longer hours just to earn enough to cover my essentials. I am blessed that the new life I started wasn’t as daunting as I had imagined. This is when I realized that what we tell ourselves truly matters. From that day forward, I began seeking inner happiness. People often see me as a bubbly person—not because I don’t experience hardships, but because I refuse to let those challenges control my inner peace. The lessons I learned then ar...
Read more

A Glimpse into Motherhood

-
Image
I still remember the day I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I was in the middle of pursuing my degree, focused on building my future. It was a surprise— one I wasn’t ready for. I didn’t know the first thing about motherhood. I only knew what I had seen in my own mother: a woman who gave everything she had to give us a better life. She worked tirelessly, often silently battling exhaustion and heartache, but she always wore a smile. That smile stayed with me. It wasn’t just about being strong— it was about choosing love, even when it was hard. Her quiet resilience gave me a spark: maybe motherhood, despite its demands, was a beautiful role. At the end of the day, you have someone to return to. You have your own blood by your side. When my daughter was born, I was afraid to hold her. I felt unsure, disconnected, even sad. I later came to understand that I was experiencing what many mothers do— baby blues , a period of emotional vulnerability after childbirth. E verything ch...
Read more