Want to know how chronic stress may be showing up in your life? These are three ways that may or may not surprise you.
Chronic stress seems to be the new standard in our lives. Many of us are pulled in various directions and have started to normalize a chaotic life. If you are anything like me, you want to understand the why and how behind such things.
Scrolling on your phone constantly? Indecisive? Not comfortable in making decisions? Mindless snacking? Well, according to some research, these habits could be connected to chronic stress.
Would reducing chronic stress make you more confident? More mindful in your eating habits? Reduce screen time?
Well, I will summarize some research articles and let you decide.
This post is all about chronic stress and three ways it may be impacting your life.
1. Food Addiction
A neurobiology study reviewed mice to see if there was a possible connection between chronic stress and food addiction.
The researchers created a stressful environment for the mice by having a LED flash light for two hours a day. This was done over a month.
They found an increase in binge eating which led to compulsive eating. The mice did show signs they were adapting to the stressor yet the increase in food patterns remained.
Additionally, the mice had various genes and proteins in their brains altered from the stress exposure.
What does that mean? The researchers found chronic stress induced changes in the reward system of the brain and increased food addiction tendencies. What also increased? Chances of obesity.
2. Weakens Ability to Make Decisions
A study done at Yale Medical School reviewed chronic stress and the impact is has on the prefrontal cortex.
What are some functions of the prefrontal cortex?
- Planning
- Decision Making
- Working Memory
- Personality Expression
- Moderating Social Behavior
The researchers found stress exposure lead to the loss of synapses on neurons which lowered higher cognitive abilities. The repeated stress influenced brain dysregulation and contributed to impaired neural pathways.
Some good news?
It appears this damage can be reversed after long periods of non-stress.
3. Smartphone Addiction
A study done in China looked at the effects of chronic stress and the role in smartphone addiction. They reference smartphones being used as “adult pacifiers” while in chronic stress.
Not surprisingly, they noticed a correlation between chronic stress and intolerance of uncertainty to be connected with smartphone addiction.
What lowered the risk of smartphone addiction? The ability to experience positive emotions.
The individuals who could experience positive emotions were less impacted by intolerance of uncertainty and therefore less likely to experience chronic stress.
Is this research telling us we need to go out and have more fun? That’s my takeaway š
Studies referenced:
Qiu H, Lu H, Pei J, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Xing C, Wang X, Zhu X. Effects of chronic stress on smartphone addiction: A moderated mediation model. Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 20;11:1048210. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1048210. PMID: 36741954; PMCID: PMC9895953.
Wei NL, Quan ZF, Zhao T, Yu XD, Xie Q, Zeng J, Ma FK, Wang F, Tang QS, Wu H, Zhu JH. Chronic stress increases susceptibility to food addiction by increasing the levels of DR2 and MOR in the nucleus accumbens. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019 May 8;15:1211-1229. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S204818. PMID: 31190828; PMCID: PMC6512647.
Woo E, Sansing LH, Arnsten AFT, Datta D. Chronic Stress Weakens Connectivity in the Prefrontal Cortex: Architectural and Molecular Changes. Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks). 2021 Aug 29;5:24705470211029254. doi: 10.1177/24705470211029254. PMID: 34485797; PMCID: PMC8408896.
Photography credit:
Luis Villasmil, Nate Dumlao, Ishaq Robin, and Bruno Gomiero
Anna says
This was so enlightening to read! I have definitely noticed all these symptoms. Iām especially hopeful that you mentioned the brain functions can be improved. Looking forward to new blog posts!