In the current situation where people use social media a lot, the information they receive each day may be overwhelming. Until causing stress from receiving information Including the situation of the spread of the virus. Resulting in increased anxiety, accumulated stress on the body, especially the brain.

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Stress and brain performance

When stressed, the body releases many chemicals to relieve the cause of stress. Especially a substance called cortisol (Cortisol), which stress affects the brain's performance as follows:

• Memory

People who are regularly stressed The brain requires energy to maintain balance due to the excessive release of the stress hormone (Cortisol). Therefore, it interferes with the functioning of some parts of the brain, especially the memory part. Managing information received on a daily basis which is the function of the brain but cannot perform this part completely Therefore making people who are always stressed There will be a risk of Alzheimer's disease. or dementia than people who can handle stress well​

• Brain size

There is research that has found a relationship between stress in the body. It is measured by the amount of stress hormones secreted. and the size of the brain using an MRI machine. It was found that people with high levels of stress hormones Will have a smaller brain size than people with normal levels of stress hormones.

It affects the brain in the Hippocampus, which is the part responsible for learning and memory. Another part is the Prefrontal Cortex, which is the part of the brain related to thoughts and emotions. Shrinking the brain in those parts increases the risk of dementia (Dementia) more than people with normal levels of stress hormones. or less than normal

Brain health helper to fight stress​

• Food

Because there are many types of compounds in food and some foods can promote the body to secrete happy substances. Also known as serotonin, which helps improve your mood, such as various types of nuts, tofu, eggs, salmon, pineapple, bananas, oatmeal, etc.​

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• exercise

Because of regular body movement The body releases happy hormones. Hormones called endorphins, which are hormones that help create relaxation and happiness. Makes the brain work normally, concentrate and have a better mood.

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• sleep

quality sleep And it's enough to help the brain deal with the information it receives each day. and helps create a true rest for the brain Can reduce stress levels And if possible Try to avoid heavy thinking in the evening or before bed.​

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• Meditation or relaxation activities

Research has found that meditation Or finding a relaxing activity can help reduce anxiety symptoms to a certain extent. and results in the part of the brain that responds to stress Also known as the Amygdala, it is less stimulated in people who practice meditation. This means that people who meditate regularly are better able to manage stress.

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Notice the symptoms when stress comes.

• Feeling depressed, depressed, or more anxious than usual.
• Easily angered, easily offended
• Lack of motivation Unable to concentrate on what can be done
• Difficulty falling asleep, unable to sleep, or sleeping too much
• Problems with memory, easily forgetful, confused, unable to make immediate decisions

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Source:

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2. Publishing HH. Protect your brain from stress [Internet]. Harvard Health. [cited 2021Mar31]. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/…/protect-your-brain-from-st… ​
3. How does stress affect the brain? [Internet]. Medical News Today. MediLexicon International; [cited 2021Mar31]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323445 ​
4. Klemm W. How Stress Changes Your Brain [Internet]. Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers; 2018 [cited 2021Mar31]. Available from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/…/how-stress-changes-your-b… ​
5. Bruno K. The Stress-Depression Connection | Can Stress Cause Depression? [Internet]. WebMD. WebMD; [cited 2021Mar31]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/stress-depression… ​
6. Stress and sleep: What's the link? [Internet]. Medical News Today. MediLexicon International; [cited 2021Mar31]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322994… ​
7. Powell A. Harvard researchers study how mindfulness may change the brain in depressed patients [Internet]. Harvard Gazette. Harvard Gazette; 2018 [cited 2021Mar31]. Available from: https://news.harvard.edu/…/harvard-researchers-study-how-m…/