Stress in the brain

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Stress is one of the leading causes of health problems today. It can lead to issues such as ulcers, headaches, chest pain or rapid heartbeat, changes in eating, and/or moodiness (Helpguide. 2013). Not only does it affect your body physically but also mentally, it has been proven that stress can in fact cause damage to the brain. The damage caused can reach a point where it has become irreversible. Stress causes severe problems in the brain relating to memory and the ability to learn, if continued it can lead to permanent brain damage.

Stress can be caused by certain things called stressors. Stressors are not necessarily considered negative but are anything that puts high demands or forces on a person (Helpguide. 2013). These can be things such as school, work, housework, or practicing for a sports team or club. Those are only considered external stressors. External stressors happen outside of the body; there are also internal stressors. Internal stressors happen inside of the body. They can relate to self-condemnation, lack of assertiveness, or perfectionism (Helpguide. 2013). When you get into an argument, busy schedule, or surprise exam your body responds as though you were in a life-or-death situation (Helpguide. 2013). If you are constantly stressed it is and dealing with these responsibilities your emergency stress response may always remain "on". This means your body is constantly responding stress; the more your body's stress system is activated the harder it is to shut it off (Helpguide. 2013).

The smallest stressors like having a pop quiz can be considered too much for the human body, especially if you're constantly having them throughout the week. Some people are able to deal with stress on a daily and receive a th...

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...d. The hippocampus is the storage of old memory and new memory. If the hippocampus is no longer there you are likely to have severe amnesia and you will not be able to remember recent information you have learned. Stress can be set off by many different things you should try your best to manage it before your body overloads.

Works Cited

"Gymnastics." Injuries – Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine – Children's Hospital Colorado. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. .
"Stress Symptoms, Signs and Causes."Stress Symptoms, Signs & Causes: Effects of Stress Overload. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.
"The Human Brain - Stress." The Human Brain - Stress. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

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