The word “stress” is one of the most frequently used terms related to psychological symptoms and neurobiological changes in people whose life became maladaptive in response to the requirements of the modern world. In this article we want to discuss the changes of in neurohumoral regulation caused by ongoing exposure to stress and the role of mental health therapists and psychologists in Dubai. You will see that stress management is a crucial part of your physical and mental health and wellbeing.
On the neurobiological level the brain regulation mechanisms involve neuroendocrine and neurohormonal control of the brain by releasing different chemicals. A ”stress” hormone cortisol is among them, playing a prominent role in the body’s stress responses. Cortisol belongs to one of the corticosteroid groups of adrenal steroids produced by the adrenal glands.
Cortisol Release in Response to Stress
A stressful (threatening, uncontrollable) situation triggers a signalling cascade in the brain, from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) or limbic system to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), which is the main hormonal stress-response system. This signalling results in an increased release of cortisol, which is known as a ‘’stress hormone’’. The function of cortisol is to prepare the body for action in response to stress. It features increased blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and suppressed immune system.
Reactions to Stress and Stressors
“Stress” commonly refers to feeling frustrated and anxious due to circumstances in which we cannot cope effectively. Accordingly, stressors are events that affect our ability to adjust to a situation and cope. The stressor induces a response—hormonal release and other mediating processes. This reaction can promote coping when the response successfully switches off. However, it may evoke pathophysiological reactions when the response is overlong. It is the case that even though the originating stressor passes, the pathophysiological reaction can continue beyond, hence chronic.
Stress causes complex structural alterations in various brain regions. It can generate either plasticity-improving reactions related to enhanced cognition or toxic reactions that lead to impairments in brain functioning. These reactions depend on the form, saturation and duration of the stressful episode.
Stress-Induced Alterations in Glutamatergic Neurotransmitters
Stress-evoked release of cortisol leads to several alterations in glutamatergic neurotransmission. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, highly concentrated within the central nervous system (CNS). Stress causes a rapid increase in glutamate release in the brain’s prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus. Thus, cortisol particularly affects those parts of the brain involved in cognition and thinking (PFC) and remembering (hippocampi).
Acute Stress
In terms of acute stress (over hours, short-term), both higher levels of glutamate and augmented glutamate receptors could promote adaptive responses to stress and enhanced cognitive processes, facilitating classical conditioning, working memory and associative learning.
Chronic Stress
However, in the condition of chronic stress (over days and longer), increases in cortisol result in excitotoxicity and damage to brain cells.
Glutamate becomes toxic to brain cells as, chronically, glial cells can not clear overabundant glutamate from the extracellular space. Raised cortisol levels and increased glutamate release over the long term cause alterations in cell gene expression resulting in shrinkage and reduction of dendrites and a reduction of spine synaptic density on nerve cells in the PFC.
Long-term or chronic stress-induced elevations of cortisol may become a pathophysiological mechanism causing various critical alterations, which have been observed in the brains of people with stress-related psychiatric illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, depression and chronic insomnia. In addition, chronic cortisol release weakens the immune system by diverting responses away from anti-inflammatory processes to instant needs. Consequently, our immune system turns off, leading to getting colds, catching flu and other infections.
Resolving difficulties that cause stress at home and work is often a challenge. Sometimes, it is impossible to find resolutions without a mental health therapist or psychologist. If you are in Dubai and need professional therapeutic guidance, need to develop proper coping strategies or even change your lifestyle we can be of assistance. Getting help with stress and life management is well worth the effort: avoiding chronic stress keeps cortisol levels fine-tuned, which supports a strong immune system, good sleep, motivation, metabolism, memory and decreased pain sensitivity. Stress management is crucial for preventing illness and maintaining a pleasurable life. Your mental health therapist, or psychologist in Dubai can assist you!