Stress-induced Memory Loss: What Exactly Is It About?

Indeed, memory is said to be a treasure that should be cherished with special care. But surely each of us has experienced a moment when we really needed our memory and it still betrayed us. The moment is perfectly conducive to fright: is this the first sign of my onset of dementia?

However, it’s not worth rushing ahead of things, and before we start considering brain degradation, it’s worth recalling another thing. Namely, in fact, up to 80% of small daily memory disorders are caused by stress.

Still, it’s not worth sighing in relief yet. Although these are not symptoms of early dementia, chronic stress and long-term anxiety disorders should still be taken seriously. Both of these change the way your brain works. Our brains are highly vulnerable and vulnerable to the effects of our lifestyle. This is especially true when we think about how we cope with our everyday worries and tensions.

Stress-induced memory loss: why does it happen?

Each of us sometimes commits the following: we leave work and return home “by auto-pilot.” We open the door to our home and as soon as we get in, we raise our hands to our temples in anger and frustration, wondering how I could even forget to pick up my firstborn from his exercises on the way? We then run back to the car – but only to realize we don’t have the keys with us.

This kind of spiral of stress and anxiety can seem endless. Surreal situations like the one described are quite common, just like the experience of losing control of your entire life. There are not many things as stressful as forgetting the important and essential things in their daily lives . 

If you now ask yourself what’s really behind the stress loss due to stress, we can point you to an old acquaintance: the cortisol hormone. Our body releases this glucocorticoid from the adrenaline glands in response to stress and it is also called a stress hormone.

However, the fact that your cortisol levels rise a little higher than normal is not a big problem. In fact, a small amount of cortisol at the right time can even promote the formation of new memories.

However, the situation can become worrying if the body releases glucocorticoids continuously for weeks or months. In this case, the individual is likely to eventually begin to experience difficulty remembering new things or recalling old memories.

Let’s take a closer look at how long-term constant stress affects our brains.

Effects of cortisol on the brain:

• Too high a level of cortisol in the brain is a toxic condition.
• The hippocampus associated with memory and emotions shrinks in size.
• Stress loss due to stress is also related to the fact that cortisol makes the free flow of blood to the brain more difficult. This in turn means that the brain receives less nutrients and oxygen, resulting in a higher risk of suffering from brain embolism, stroke, etc. The condition is therefore serious.
• If cortisol is continuously excreted, you will also notice another effect: less endorphins are released. This combination easily leads to an even more uncomfortable state of being and mood, as well as a greatly reduced ability to enjoy things you normally like: exercise, laughing and spending time with loved ones, food…
• Last, but not least, on our list is the effect of cortisol on human sleep rhythm. A person who has become saturated with stress hormone goes through periods or periods colored by insomnia, leaving an entire night on the lands of sleep as a mere dream because of the constant awakening.

What can we do to reduce stress-induced memory loss?

If you have noticed any unusual memory problems in yourself in recent weeks or months, it is best to see a doctor. Sometimes  problems like this are related to a purely poor diet (such as vitamin D or B12 deficiency).  In addition, there are diseases such as hypothyroidism that can alter an individual’s cognitive abilities very dramatically. So if you want to calm your worries, it’s best to talk to a medical professional about it.

Once you’ve ruled out medical reasons from your bills, you can focus on the problem by controlling your own level of stress. Here are some ways to do this.

• Identify your own stressors. Pay attention to how your body reacts: muscle tension, stiffness of the neck, shoulders or chin, palpitations…
• However, you can’t deal with stress just by avoiding what takes away your sense of peace. In reality, the most effective way to manage stress is to face the things that cause it. So you need to set priorities for yourself, make decisions, and take control of your own life.
• Use breathing techniques.
• Interpret your life in a new way. Take a moment to think about what is really important to you in your life. Slow down and value the moment at hand.
• Eat healthy. Make sure your diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of water, grains, valerian root, chamomile…
• Magnesium supplements are also a great way to protect your brain from the effects of stress.
• Take a half hour walk every day. This will help you clear your mind, as a result of which you will think about things differently and at the same time improve your blood circulation. This way, your brain gets more nutrients and oxygen.

In conclusion, stress-induced memory loss can really affect your life. If you don’t address the root of the problem, the stress will only get worse until its effect is always more devastating. The mood really goes down and all the motivation is gone…

So learn to slow down and try not to rush through your life. After all, your own health is the most important thing in the world every single day.