Stress:
One of the Leading Drains on our Memories
When we are under stress, our
bodies excrete the hormone cortisol. It has been shown in multiple
studies that when we are placed under a great deal of stress and
cortisol is being rapidly released throughout the system, there
are often memory lapses that correspond with these episodes. Cortisol
has been shown to affect the neurotransmitters, which can be the
direct cause of memory impairment. Information conveyed to you while
you are under stressful conditions may not make it into either short
term or long term memory. It has also been shown that while we are
under stress the amount of blood glucose, which is directly related
to our energy levels, is diminished. Hence, the amount of energy
that is needed to properly store information into memory is lacking.
After dealing with stress over a prolonged period of time, the brain
may actually lose the necessary functioning for proper memory storage
and retrieval.
Some techniques for handling stress are:
- Breathing deeply
- Prioritizing your actions
- Delegating responsibility when possible
- Exercise and diet can help to reduce stress
levels
Because stress can have such a profound
effect on memory, it may be necessary (especially if you are under
stress consistently) to prepare some outside memory aides to help
you function normally. Calendars and to do lists can help you to
not only get a grasp on the actuality of your stressors, but they
can also help you to set priorities and grasp the work that is ahead
of you. If you feel that your memory is being impaired as a result
of high stress situations and none of the previously mentioned tips
are helping you to overcome these problems, than it may be necessary
for you to contact your healthcare provider and let him or her know
your concerns and the levels of memory loss you are suffering from.
It is important to take this necessary step in order to rule out
any other underlying condition that may be resulting in your memory
loss.
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