BRAIN CHANGES DURING STRESS.Limbic system in the brain deals with stress. It is usually called as emotional brain. It is
also called as mammalian brain. Limbic system usually responds to stress, via autonomic nervous system and regulates metabolism. It is having significant influence on emotions and memory. The autonomic nervous system contains
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Sympathetic nervous system promotes response to stress. Parasympathetic nervous system promotes relaxation process. They brought these Reponses through various
hormones. But the hormones won’t come back to normal levels even after the stressor is removed. Persistent high levels of hormones cause damage to the cells of the brain, the hippocampus. Hippocampus is the site in the brain responsible for memory and learning. It is important to bring back the hormones to normal levels after vanishing of the stressor. If is not occurring by natural phenomenon we have to do it by conscious efforts, to maintain equilibrium. The sympathetic nervous system stimulates adrenals to release adrenaline, and other hormones as a coping response to face stress. They increase respiratory rate heart rate, and blood pressure. This enables to move the oxygen rich blood Faster, to muscles and brain to support extra energy needed to adapt to the fighting or fleeting response to stress. Adrenaline causes rapid release of glucose and fatty acids into blood. These mechanisms also provide extra energy needed for that increased demand. They also reduce flow of energy to other parts of body, which are not playing important role in that emergency situation. They are growth and reproduction, the immune system, skin, and sex organs. This is the reason for sexual dysfunction during prolonged periods of stress. Skin disorders, increased susceptibility to infections, metabolic overdrive will occur during prolonged periods of stress. Stress also causes increase in permeability of blood brain barrier. So harm full chemicals, which usually can’t reach brain, reach brain during stress (due to alterations in blood brain barrier) and cause brain damage.http://www.fi.edu/brain/stress.htm