Stress is the friction that allows our minds to accomplish tasks on a deadline and to perform complicated tasks, and it is a motivator to push our limits. Too much stress, however, can severely affect the brain and cause problems and symptoms similar to neurological disorders. Knowing some of the signs of excess stress can help you find ways to alleviate stress and take back your life and health. As with any medical condition, stress can lead to a number of complications, so it is advisable to seek professional medical help as soon as possible.
Identification
Stress causes the brain to release corticosteroids into the endocrine system. These corticosteroids cause the heart rate to increase, raise blood pressure and heighten alertness. Over time, this shift into high gear causes damage to the brain and body that manifests as a variety of disorders, particularly mental dysfunction.
Sleep
One of the earliest neurological symptoms of too much stress is alterations in sleep patterns. Insomnia (the inability to sleep) is common, and shortened sleep patterns, troubling dreams resulting in restless nights, shallow sleep (the inability to fall completely asleep and enter the regenerative phase of your daily cycle), sleepwalking and a feeling of tiredness after sleep also are possible. Sleep deprivation exacerbates other stress symptoms and can lead to other, non-neurological health problems.
Behavioral
Stress and lack of proper sleep also contribute to behavioral changes sometimes associated with neurological disorders. They can include rapid mood swings, lashing out or volatile temper, nervousness, anxiety or a feeling of impending doom, an inability to concentrate and excessive worry. Sometimes patients mistake these symptoms for brain tumors or other disorders, which only heightens their stress cycle.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms of too much stress can include sexual impotence or disinterest in sex, headaches, restlessness, loss of appetite, and dizziness or feeling light headed. These are generally caused by the constant corticosteroid infusion into the nervous system.
Prevention/Solution
There are several ways to deal with stress, most of which do not require medication. Exercise and weight loss tend to counter the corticosteroids with dopamine and endorphins, two powerful hormones that infuse the body with a sense of well-being and pleasure. Additionally, remove stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine and some narcotics (such as cocaine) to give the brain time to slow down and slow production of corticosteroids. Finally, professional psychological help can assist in altering the way you deal with challenges and stress, thus altering your body's chemical response.
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