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Behavioral Healthcare

5 Ways Chronic Stress Alters Your Brain and How to Safeguard Your Mental Well-being



5 Ways Chronic Stress Alters Your Brain and How to Safeguard Your Mental Well-being

✨ UNLOCK YOUR BRAIN’S FULL POTENTIAL! My free 2-minute quiz reveals your unique “Brain Operating System” and gives you a personalized guide to master your focus, handle stress, and perform at your best. Take the Quiz → https://drmarks.co/BrainQuiz-yt

Discover how chronic stress physically changes your brain and learn practical strategies to protect your mental well-being. This video explores five key ways stress impacts brain structure and function, from memory and decision-making to emotional regulation. Plus, get actionable steps to build resilience and reverse stress-related brain changes.

References:
Stress-Induced Amygdala Growth
Vyas, Ajai et al. “Chronic stress induces contrasting patterns of dendritic remodeling in hippocampal and amygdaloid neurons.” The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience vol. 22,15 (2002): 6810-8. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-15-06810.2002

Amygdala Enlargement in Humans Under Chronic Stress
Roozendaal, B., McEwen, B. & Chattarji, S. Stress, memory and the amygdala. Nat Rev Neurosci 10, 423–433 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2651

Mindfulness Meditation Can Reduce Amygdala Size
Taren, Adrienne A et al. “Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial.” Social cognitive and affective neuroscience vol. 10,12 (2015): 1758-68. doi:10.1093/scan/nsv066

Hippocampal Atrophy:
McEwen, Bruce S et al. “Stress Effects on Neuronal Structure: Hippocampus, Amygdala, and Prefrontal Cortex.” Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology vol. 41,1 (2016): 3-23. doi:10.1038/npp.2015.171

Prefrontal Cortex Impairment:
Arnsten, Amy F T. “Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function.” Nature reviews. Neuroscience vol. 10,6 (2009): 410-22. doi:10.1038/nrn2648

Altered Neuroplasticity:
McEwen, Bruce S, and John H Morrison. “The brain on stress: vulnerability and plasticity of the prefrontal cortex over the life course.” Neuron vol. 79,1 (2013): 16-29. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2013.06.028

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

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37 Comments

  2. @misterpisharing on

    Dr. Tracy Marks videos have provided with wonderful support in these days when my financial situation has been really low, therefore, anxiety and stress have increased to unexpected levels. We need to shield ourselves to gain clarity. Thank you so much!

  5. @l.aposdif4855 on

    Here I am (deeply traumatized by all the ongoing and unrelentless psychological abuse from family members, "friends" who have betrayed me and even clients –
    with 158/80 blood pressure, migraine, fibromyalgia) under chronic stress, feeling that I can't cope anymore. About to go to the hospital to seek some help, which will probably be as disappointing as it has been the last times. In all honesty I should have and wish I had stopped existing years ago, it would be more logical and it would have spared me from so much undeserved trauma, abuse, disappointments and crap

  7. @lethallure6260 on

    I know im probably in this category and i find myself every morning waking up at 4 something this is challenging me being able to get a full 8 hours of sleep. I’ve been taking magnesium and recently been trying to do a chamomile tea at night but still struggle a good bit with this issue I think further putting me in the chronic stress. I also do workout several times a week. What should I do?

  11. @DadaDada-m7y on

    شكرا علي مجهودك احببتك كثيرا وهذا ما احتاجه مخ لدي اتصاب بسبب ارتفاع ضغط نفسي 😢

  12. @roslynhouston8037 on

    @DrTraceyMarks, thank you so much for making this highly informative and helpful videos. I love how you .ake the concepts easy to understand with your analogies. Know that your work is appreciated.

  14. @userxyz2256 on

    This video helped me a lot. I suffer from stress and anxiety due to the nature of my job, as well as family pressures. I have been taking the medication Alprazolam for 30 years every day. Thank you for these valuable instructions.

  17. @Universal_exports87 on

    I have to admit, stress did WONDERS in helping me develop the analytical muscle in my brain; my lowest grade in my second graduate level class was a 90, and I'm fairly confident that my overall grade will be an A+. I just wish it would stop wreaking havoc on my body.

  18. @1rocknroy on

    Doctor, You are my favorite psychiatrist and I watch a lot of your videos. I'm highly interested in this particular subject. I say all this to cushion my constructive opinion: Slow down to let the info sink in. At .6 speed it's better but too muddy.

  28. @PinkiSingh-z4z3x on

    Very informative video! Chronic stress can affect the brain so gradually that many people don’t notice the impact until it starts affecting sleep, focus, and mood. I recently came across Streffie, which helps people get a quick sense of their stress levels. Catching those early signs can make it easier to take action and protect your mental well-being. Great explanation!

  33. @leonidushanoff3384 on

    With so many people stressed out and seeking therapy, I wonder what is it that causes anxiety and chronic stress. Modern life? Disconnect from nature? Social networks? All of them probably, but happiness too is an ephemeral concept and unattainable, until you decide.

  34. @tamiwigginton7137 on

    I just dont understand, life should not be this hard, there are to many things that affect our brains!! Theres a bigger picture here!! Its not good either!!