does stress make one stupid

[leftofthedial]

forgetful

and absent-minded?

[Redneck Socialist]

1. absolutely n/t

[Ariana Celeste]

2. Does for me!

I also get very sleepy.

[leftofthedial]

8. yeah, sleepy all the time

[Lars39]

3. It can.

I call it stress blanking.

[hyphenate]

4. I wouldn't say "stupid"

but stress can make one's mind a bit chaotic and there is no great ability to concentrate.

Check over to www.webmd.com for example and input stress and its various side effects, or run a google on stress and side effects, including mental instability.

Currently, I have clinical depression, and I have found it very difficult to stick with tasks or mental processes for very long.

[progmom]

5. oh yeah.

it's a vicious cycle

[leftofthedial]

9. what can one do with diet or other lifestyle choices

to combat stress?

[Bossy Monkey]

11. Cut out caffeine and sodium, add yoga or meditation, turn off the TV nt

[EFerrari]

12. Walking is great. Not that semi running and killing your knees

walking. But just walking. After 20 minutes, your musculature starts to relax. It's pretty cool and nearly free.

[Burma Jones]

6. Huh?

I don't get it.....

[napi21]

7. No, I don't think so, but it can cause you to do some dumb things.

It's because you are concentrating on whatever is causing you the stress and not thinking normally.

[shockra]

10. Indeed it do.

New Studies Of Human Brains Show Stress May Shrink Neurons

STANFORD -- The first direct evidence that stress can shrink a crucial part of the human brain is being compiled by scientists using new, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, according to a Stanford expert on stress and the brain.

In a review article in the Aug. 9 edition of the journal Science, biological sciences Professor Robert Sapolsky said that the work of several research groups shows links between long-term stressful life experiences, long-term exposure to hormones produced during stress, and shrinking of the part of the brain involved in some types of memory and learning.

continued...

http://cup-o-joe.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/29/212838/161

[leftofthedial]

14. interesting

thanks

[NMMNG]

13. Not stupid

But it can definitely make one forgetful and absent minded, which can give the appearance and feeling of being stupid. If there is anything you can do to reduce the stress in your life (take time off of work, more sleep, get help around the house, talk with a friend, spiritual support, dietary changes, etc.) it can go a long way.

[radwriter0555]

15. YES. I have very conveniently forgotten my bank PIN number for the past

week, as we've been traveling to and literally moving to France.

I have no idea what it is. It happened when we had first come to europe 2 years ago too... Eventually apparently, I'll remember it!

[In_The_Wind]

16. stress can cause many problems

in addition to the ones you've mentioned ... it can also affect the ability to make choices