How Stress Saps Your Health

Acute stress appears to suppress activity in areas of the brain associated with short-term memory, inhibition and rational thought, which could help explain why complex intellectual tasks may seem more difficult under stress. At the same time, the brain stores emotionally loaded experiences into long-term memory. For our ancestors, these emotional memories were critical to identifying and avoiding future threats. However, this stress-memory relationship may also play a role in PTSD. Chronic stress leaves the body in a constant state of arousal, which takes a toll on one’s ability to concentrate. This may be particularly detrimental to developing children who appear to have increased issues with memory and learning compared to their peers.