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Did you know stress affects everyone every day? I’m Dr. Deepak Agarwal, Professor of Neurosurgery. Recent research shows that during COVID, our brains aged 5–6 months faster, even if we didn’t get infected. Chronic stress doesn’t just affect your mind—it impacts your whole body.
How Mental Stress Works
Stress triggers the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis:
The hypothalamus releases cortisol-releasing hormones.
These activate the pituitary gland to release ACTH.
ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands, releasing cortisol, the stress hormone.
Short-term stress is useful—it increases focus and concentration. But long-term stress harms your brain and body.
Effects of Stress on Brain Parts
Stress impacts three key areas:
Amygdala: Controls emotions; stress makes it overactive → irritability and overreactions.
Hippocampus: Controls memory and learning; chronic stress shrinks it → focus, memory, and learning issues.
Prefrontal Cortex: Controls decision-making; stress reduces its activity → impulsive decisions and poor thinking.
Stress also reduces neuronal activity, slows repair, and increases inflammation, accelerating brain aging and increasing the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Stress and Depression
Chronic stress disturbs mood-balancing hormones, increasing depression, anxiety, and emotional instability.
Amygdala becomes overactive
Prefrontal cortex becomes underactive
This leads to memory problems, anxiety, and emotional lability.
Symptoms of Mental Stress
Watch for these signs:
Forgetfulness or memory issues
Sleep problems or insomnia
Irritability over small things
Poor concentration
Feeling lonely or withdrawn
If you notice any of these, you may be experiencing chronic stress.
Ways to Reduce Stress
Stress is common, but you can manage it:
Physical exercise: Walk 5,000–10,000 steps daily to lower cortisol.
Meditation & breathing exercises: 10 minutes daily relaxes your amygdala and stabilizes emotions.
Healthy diet: Eat leafy greens, nuts, and omega-3-rich foods; reduce junk food to nourish your brain and reduce stress.
Start now—stress effects show up over months or years, so early action is key!
Conclusion
Mental stress seriously affects your brain and body. Don’t ignore it. Exercise, meditate, eat healthy, and start managing stress today for long-term benefits.
Full Article: How Stress Damages the Brain 🧠 | Stress Aur Depression Ka Connection
About Dr. Deepak Agrawal
Deepak Agrawal born 10 November 1970, is a professor neurosurgery at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi is one of the top 10 surgeons in the neurosurgery. During his stint as chairman computarization, he transformed the ICT processes at AIIMS, New Delhi and also helped patients in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi to get a Unique Health Identification (UHID), which documents their entire journey in the hospital. He also pioneered stem cell research in Spinal cord injury in India. Dr. Agrawal has pioneered DREZotomy technique for neuropathic pain in India and has refined the procedure to make it safer and more accessible to patients. [Wikipedia: Deepak Agrawal]
