Is stress making the brain weak? This could be the reason behind the habit of forgetfulness and worry.

Mental Health: In today’s fast-paced life, stress has become a part of people’s daily routine. Job pressure, financial problems, family responsibilities, relationship confusion and worries about the future are affecting mental health. Prolonged stress not only affects mood but can also negatively impact brain function.

According to senior psychiatrist Dr. Gaurav Gupta (Tulsi Healthcare, Gurugram), during stress, the level of hormones like cortisol and adrenalin increases in the body. These hormones help the body deal with difficult situations in the short term, but high levels over a long period of time can affect brain functioning.

Affects memory and concentration

Chronic stress can have the greatest impact on the ability to think, understand and concentrate. A person under stress starts forgetting small things, may feel difficulty in focusing on any work and may have difficulty in taking right decisions.

Risk of anxiety and depression may increase

Prolonged stress can increase anxiety, depression, panic attacks and emotional problems. In such a situation, the person may become more irritable, may get angry again and again or may start maintaining distance from people. This can affect both personal life and work.

Stress also affects sleep

Stress is directly related to sleep. Many people do not sleep properly at night due to stress, wake up repeatedly or feel tired even after waking up in the morning. Due to not getting enough sleep, the mind does not get rest and the problem of stress can increase further.

It also has negative effects on the body

Prolonged stress can also affect the body. This can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart problems, digestive problems, headache, migraine and weak immunity.

When should expert advice be taken?

If you are experiencing persistent sadness, excessive anxiety, loss of interest in work, changes in sleep or appetite, increased anger or difficulty in doing everyday tasks for two weeks or more, then it should not be ignored. In such a situation, taking advice from a mental health expert can be beneficial.

Adopt these habits to reduce stress

Exercise for at least 30 minutes daily.
Make a habit of walking regularly.
Get adequate sleep of 7 to 8 hours.
Adopt yoga, meditation and deep breathing techniques.
Spend time with family and friends.
Share your feelings with trusted people.
Limit use of mobile and social media.
Eat a balanced diet and stay away from caffeine, alcohol and drugs.
Maintain balance between work and personal life.
Learn to set your boundaries and say ‘no’ when needed.

Mental and physical health can be improved by recognizing stress in time and adopting right habits.