This Is Your Brain on Stress

Stress Relief

Stress relief techniques are essential for mitigating the damaging effects of chronic stress on the brain. Sanjay Gupta suggests several methods, including deep breathing exercises, which involve inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth to lower stress hormone levels 1. He also highlights the practice of forest bathing, where immersing oneself in nature and breathing in phytoncides can reduce stress biologically 1. Another effective strategy is practicing gratitude, which can quickly reset the brain's focus from negative to positive thoughts 1.

Practicing gratitude may be the quickest, most effective way to at least temporarily thwart some of the negative feelings that people have understandably had throughout this pandemic.

--- Sanjay Gupta

Engaging in creative activities like painting or working with hands also helps in focusing on concrete tasks, providing relief from stress 1.

   

Psychological Effects

Chronic stress significantly impacts psychological functions, affecting empathy, decision-making, and social behavior. Robert M. Sapolsky explains that stress reduces the brain's capacity for empathy, narrowing our social circles and making us more selfish and impulsive 2. This response is rooted in our basic primate instincts, where stress leads to a more parochial view of who is considered part of our group 2.

When you were chronically stressed, you become less capable of empathy. And our circle of who counts as an us gets narrower.

--- Robert M. Sapolsky

Sapolsky also notes that younger brains are more malleable and resilient, but the current stressful environment may lead to troubling outcomes for them in the future 2.