We all deal with a lot of stress at Hinsdale Central between all the AP classes and homework and participating in sports too. But do you know what happens to your mind and body when you stress too much or have a lot of bad stress? It can have many bad effects on the brain especially when people are young and undeveloped mentally. In adults, too much stress can lead to illnesses such as ulcers and hypertension. This source seems reliable because the article is written on a popular website for adults with younger children and the author, Hank Pellisier, is trying to help prevent high stress in kids.
The reaction that happens in the brain when someone is under stress can be good if limited to certain situations but when people are subject to long-term stress it can have very bad effects.
“When a child experiences stress, the hypothalamus (above the brainstem) releases a hormone that rushes to the neighboring pituitary gland. The pituitary gland then mobilizes the production of a second hormone that swims via the bloodstream to adrenal glands above the kidneys. The adrenal glands activate adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline accelerates the child’s heart rate and elevates the blood pressure. Cortisol pumps up the blood sugar level, elevating the child’s muscle and memory power and boosting the pain threshold.”
So these side effects sound great when you read about them and they are if it happens rarely and for short amounts of time. Chronic and long term stress can cause Cortisol to stay in the brain and chew it up. This may result in memory loss and lower IQ than people that aren’t dealing with long term stress.
This damage to the brain may not be permanent though, especially in children. If stress is reduced and limited the developing brains can heal and rid the Cortisol in them. One of the best ways of reducing stress and tension is exercise which needs to become a bigger priority for youth nowadays.
Future Question: How to Study for Tests and Manage Stress?
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