Q. I told a co-worker that I think I am getting dementia because I can’t remember things, simple things like how to do everyday charting on the computer. Sometimes it seems difficult to process my thoughts. I would rate my stress level most days a 10 with 10 being so much stress I want to flee. I do not feel this way when I am away from my job.
What can I do? —- Jenny
A. Jenny here is some information that you might find very helpful:
LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF STRESS
Your body’s stress response is perfect in the short-term, but damaging if it goes on for days, weeks or longer. Raised levels of cortisol for prolonged periods can compromise your immune system and decrease the number of brain cells so impairing your memory. It can also affect your blood pressure and the fats in your blood making it more likely you will have a heart attack or stroke.
CORTISOL LEVELS IN PEOPLE UNDER PROLONGED STRESS
So, does stress kill brain cells?
The answer seems to be yes. Stress causes the release of cortisol. This hormone has been shown to damage and kill cells in the hippocampus (the brain area responsible for your episodic memory) and there is robust evidence that chronic stress causes premature brain aging.
Without cortisol you would die — but too much of it is not a good thing.
STRESS AND DEPRESSION
It’s quite clear that chronic stress is related to depression due to an excess release of cortisol into
the blood.
So with all this cortisol surging through the bodies of stressed out people and the truly damaging results; we need to make some changes.
SOME THINGS ARE TOO HOT TO TOUCH
THE HUMAN MIND CAN ONLY STAND SO MUCH
YOU CAN’T WIN WITH A LOSING HAND
These lyrics to Bob Dylan’s song, Things Have Changed give you something to think about. Is your job “potentially dangerous,” and “your mind can only stay healthy for so long,” and if you “are in a job that does not work for you”……………..YOU CAN’T WIN.
Vicki L Mayfield, M.Ed., R.N., LMFT Marriage and Family Therapy Oklahoma City
If you would like to send a question to Vicki, email us at [email protected]
