Stress is one of the disorders that are hard to define but often characterized by unpleasant emotional and psychological state that causes an individual to perceive dangerous and threatening situations to their well-being.  Studies have shown that stress can have both negative and positive effects on humans.  On a positive note, stress is a normal reaction caused by neurons to a frightening situation that thereby signals a defensive action to prepare steroids for a perceived danger.  This reaction enables a person to prepare how to handle or avoid it. 

Nonetheless, stress may also have negative effects and if not managed, stress may cause serious complications.  In fact, both acute and chronic stress may result to physical and mental illness. Stress significantly affects the body functioning including that of the brain. When an individual experiences a stressful situation, the body undergoes a number of changes that triggers emotional and physiological arousal.  Some of the positive and negative bodily responses to stress are as follows:

Activation of the Autonomic Nervous System’s Sympathetic Division

This division of the nervous system functions to prepare the body for stress reaction by directing the secretion of hormones of the adrenal glands. This gland secretes the so-called adrenaline (epinephrine) or the noradrenaline (norepinephrine).  This response causes rapid heart beat, increased muscle tension, rising blood, dilated pupils, and increased perspiration. This is called the fight-or-flight response that drives one to either confront or flee from the threat.

Release of Cortisols

Another stress response has to do with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus parts of the brain.  These parts of the brain are responsible for the regulation of the hormones and other bodily functions.  During a stress situation, the hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland’s secretion of the hormone called adrenocorticotropic.  This consequently stimulates the cortex of the adrenal glands.  The stimulation further causes the release of the glucocorticoids.  The stress hormone, which is referred to as Cortisol, helps the body access carbohydrates and fats in order for it to fuel the fight-or-flight response.

Hippocampus Damage Attributed to Stress
A study conducted by the School of Medicine of Yale Medicine revealed that stress, both acute and chronic, poses disturbing effects to the brain.  According to the study, among the responses of the brain to stress that remain uncontrolled is the development of damages causing neuropsychiatric disorders.  Disorders such as post traumatic stress and depressions are found connected to cellular changes in the hippocampus part of the brain. The study used mice that were exposed to IL-1ß, which produces several stress-like effects in the adrenal system, the hypothalamus, and the pituitary glands. Exposure to such showed that the brain is prevented from the production of new neurons thereby affected the ability to feel pleasure.