As we age, our bodies produce smaller amounts of the stress hormone. In our youth, our hormones are more active and have higher levels of cortisol. As a result, our responses to stress are usually much stronger and faster. We are usually less prone to bouts of depression and our memory is better. But our body's natural response to high levels of the stress hormone is to reduce levels of insulin.
The stress response in the brain is initiated by signals from the hypothalamus and the brain. The hypothalamus produces hormones like noradrenalin and dopamine that attract and retain sexual desire. When they are released in sufficient amounts, these hormones cause our brain to override the logic of our stomach and send signals to the rest of our body to slow down or stop eating. This is our "fight or flight" response.
Although our body does not need the stress hormones to be prepared for action, over time, the presence of the stress hormones causes the hypothalamus to override the logic of our brain and continue producing the fight or flight response. The result is that we can now suffer from poor short-term memory consolidation, poor mental functioning, lack of concentration and difficulty focusing. Our bodies continue to overproduce cortisol and we eventually develop long-term memory problems.
It is believed that over stimulation of the adrenal glands release higher amounts of cortisol than necessary. Over stimulation of the adrenal glands can result in the release of higher amounts of a stress hormone called cortisol. If this secretion of the stress hormone cortisol occurs in excess, it results in an imbalance in blood sugar levels and brain chemistry. Long-term memory consolidation can be affected.
Excess cortisol production can also result in anxiety, irritability and depression. Stress hormones act on the brain, through the hypothalamus, to interrupt the balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. When the balance of neurotransmitters is disrupted, the brain is unable to function normally. People who suffer from anxiety disorders often have abnormal levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their brains. As well, the body's attempt to compensate for the absence of the stress hormone in the brain by increasing the level of its own adrenal glands often results in increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well.
Cortisol is secreted directly into the bloodstream, where it acts on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to interrupt the balance of neurotransmitters. When this happens the brain reacts to the stress hormone in an inappropriate way. It initiates physiological and behavioral responses such as increased heart rate, sweating, nervousness, and muscle tension. These biological responses occur outside of the brain causing symptoms that are similar to those of common anxiety and depression.
The main factor that causes stress to be produced in the bloodstream is a persistent and chronic state of stress. Chronic stress can cause many biological and behavioral problems including increased blood pressure, decreased fertility, poor memory, impaired judgment, decreased immune function, and the aging process. The best way to deal with stress is to find a way to eliminate or reduce its effect on the body. If there is a consistent and prolonged presence of stress in the bloodstream, the excessive production of the stress hormone cortisol is necessary in order to combat the effects of the stress in the mind and the bloodstream. Chronic stress must be reduced or eliminated in order to return the body to a normal state.