The Fascinating Human Brain- Part 3: Stress

Yesterday we mentioned that the brain changes and new neurons are formed ALL THROUGHOUT the lifespan.

Today I want to expand on the effects of STRESS.

Your amydala is your fight-flight center. It is good for you--when you perceive danger, your body produces cortisol, which raises your heart rate, respiration and blood pressure that enables you to RUN AWAY if you are threatened.

Like I said, cortisol is adaptive in a sense, because it enables you to get stuff DONE. Cortisol levels are highest in the body from 5-7 am-- time to get a move on!

But cortisol is also a killer. The highest incidence of heart attacks also occurs between 5-7am, when cortisol levels in the blood are high. Cortisol is meant to give you a BOOST of energy. But when cortisol is released continually (i.e., you are in a very stressful job, or you have a very stressful home life, or you never REST, or you have that kind of hyper-active fear responsive brain I talked about last post) it can be deadly.

In a person who is not highly anxious, cortisol levels DROP as you go throughout your day.

And, did you know that God gave us a special neurochemical, oxytocin, which counter-acts the effect of cortisol?

And how do you get oxytocin? Oxytocin is released during sex, during positive touch (like cuddling with your sweetie or a relaxing message), or even just bonding activities with a good friend.

And fascinatingly, the levels of oxytocin are highest during BIRTH and stimulates the mother's body to start nursing.

In other words, a little love from your sweetie CAN reduce your stress level. And as your mother was your first sweetie, God designed our bodies this way so that babies get a HUGE dose of lovin' as soon as they are born!

But what if you don't have a sweetie? Can you reduce your stress level?
After just 20 minutes of good exercise, your kidneys will wash cortisol out of your system.

I told you, this is fascinating.