THIS IS YOUR BRAIN

Stress affects the brain in specific ways. When you are faced with anxiety-provoking situations, your body reacts with a fight-or-flight response.  Your sympathetic nervous system releases a series of hormones that allow you to face danger.

 

The types of stressors we encounter have changed over time (we no longer have to choose fight or flight when facing a saber-toothed tiger), but our bodies still use this tactic to help us cope with everyday challenges. The stress and anxiety we feel from an onslaught of homework or a looming presentation is caused by the same circulation of hormones and neurotransmitters working their way through our bodies.

 

Long term exposure to stress hormones, like cortisol, and elevated levels of neurotransmitters, like norepinephrine, can have long term effects on our mental and physical health. However, with this knowledge, we can learn how to hack our nervous system and help it calm down over time.