Stress Management for Memory
Episode #10 of the course 10 ways to improve your memory by Jordan Harry
Welcome back for the tenth and final lesson! You made it. By now, I hope you have a clear idea of some of the techniques you can use to enhance your cognitive function. This final lesson is designed to help you manage stress – something too many of us experience daily.
There is a complex relationship between stress and memory and, in particular, your short-term memory.
Facts you read, hear and study become memories through a three-step process: acquisition, consolidation and retrieval. New ideas have to be consolidated by the hippocampus, influenced by the amygdala, which emphasises experiences associated with strong emotions. The hippocampus then encodes the memory by strengthening the synaptic connections stimulated during the original sensory experience. Once the memory is stored, the prefrontal cortex usually retrieves that memory.
But, when stress is entered into the equation, what impact does this have on the process of saving and retrieving memories?
The Anatomy of Stress
Stress can be psychological (work deadlines), chemical (smoking) and physiological (illness), but it is always biological. Whatever the cause of stress, it creates measurable changes in the body. The stress response is an evolutionary mechanism mediated by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and developed to protect the body at times of short-lived risk. Your brain responds to stressful stimuli by releasing hormones called corticosteroids which activate a threat response in the amygdala (the threat detection centre). This plays a crucial role in helping you to add meaning to what you’ve seen based partly on previous experiences and partly on in-built instinctive reactions. The amygdala sends a threat to the hypothalamus, which signals to the adrenal glands, releasing adrenaline into the bloodstream. This initiates a whole cascade of physiological processes in your body, including fast-beating heart rate, breathing rate increases, glucose and fats released into the blood as emergency energy for action and increased attention to potential risks in the environment ready to act.
You can see how this set of automatic responses can help some situations; however, more extreme stress has lasting adverse effects on the human body and brain.
Chronic stress is maybe the single most considerable risk to brain health. An extended period of sustained corticosteroids that result from chronic stress can damage the hippocampus and reduce the ability to create new memories. Activity is suppressed in the prefrontal cortex, which is vital for decision-making, planning and reason.
Spotting Symptoms of Stress
As we have seen, stress hormones influence almost every system in the body, from brain cells to blood sugar. Many of the physical symptoms of stress can be missed, so it’s essential to get familiar with the bodily manifestations of stress so that you can assess and address them as soon as possible.
• Headaches or migraines
• Heart palpitations
• Breathlessness
• Digestive problems
• Significant weight change
• Excessive use of stimulants and substances, e.g. caffeine or alcohol
• Poor sleep
In terms of psychological symptoms, these indicators could mean you’re under excess pressure:
• Increased aggression, short temper or frustration
• Anxiety
• Low mood or depression
• Overwhelm
• Poor concentration
• Procrastination
• Loss of confidence
• Impaired memory function
• Impaired emotional responses
• Social withdrawal
Left untreated, stress can lay the foundations for depression and other mental illnesses, which is why it is important to take stress seriously.
How to Manage Stress Effectively
Now that you understand the basics about the brain and memory process, it’s essential to factor in lifestyle changes that effectively manage stress levels and increase your brain health.
1. Identify stressful situations before they arise and prepare, e.g. if you are due to sit an exam, practice in similar conditions to prepare, making your stress response less sensitive.
2. Exercising regularly has been shown to combat anxiety and stress as the release of endorphins acts as a natural mood booster and improves sleep.
3. Using essential oils or burning a scented candle can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
4. Reducing your caffeine intake can reduce anxiety – if you notice that caffeine makes you jittery, think about cutting back.
5. Keeping a journal can help to relieve stress, primarily when you focus on the positivities.
6. Try to find humour in everyday life; laughing relieves your stress response and relaxes your muscles intensely.
7. Learn to say no – try not to take on more than you can handle so you can effectively manage your time without feeling overwhelmed.
Congratulations on reaching the end of the course! You now have the tools and techniques you need to supercharge your memory to become more productive in life. Good luck in your endeavours, and I hope these lessons will significantly impact you.
I’m Jordan Harry, and this has been ten ways to improve your memory.
Recommended book
Unwinding Anxiety: Train Your Brain to Heal Your Mind by Judson Brewer
Other courses by Jordan Harry
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