What does stress do to your brain?

Stress gets lots of attention for having negative impacts on your health. It’s been linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, can cause headaches, stomach problems, and more. Less known may be the impacts of stress on the brain. In studies, scientists have noted that stress can impact the brain’s structure, memory, and memory recall and increase the likelihood of developing a mental illness like depression or anxiety.

Stress can be a perfectly normal response to situations that we encounter throughout life. Stress before an important test or ahead of a medical appointment can be normal. The brain and body have the ability to down-regulate that stress response, and in most people, the body and brain return to their pre-stress levels. For some people, regulating after a stressful event can be challenging.

Chronic or ongoing stress can have lasting impacts on the brain, creating vulnerability to developing mental illness. The brain’s structure can be affected by stress. Stress can cause changes to both white and gray matter in the brain, contributing to other mental health issues. Some research indicates that exposure to even a single stressful event can kill newly formed neurons in the brain. While existing neurons may be unaffected by stress, new ones can die from certain kinds of exposure to stress.

Stress can influence memory. Ongoing stress can affect the ability to recall information from the environment and how we view spatial relationships. Short-term memory is also affected by exposure to stress. If you’ve ever tried to recall the details of a very stressful situation, you probably are aware that remembering the full details of the event can feel difficult.

Good stress, also called eustress, can arise from positive situations. For example, you may experience stress before receiving your high school diploma or ahead of a first date. These situations are positive, and the stress response is positive stress. Positive stress hasn’t been shown to have the negative impacts of other forms of stress. Stress can be helpful; it can provide us with the energy needed to address a serious situation.

If you feel that your stress interferes with your ability to navigate daily tasks, talk with your doctor or a licensed mental health counselor.