Mental Health | Disabilities and Aging

Stress and Memory

Stress and Memory Some memory loss is considered a mild cognitive impairment, but chronic, long-term stress can have a serious effect on the severity of that memory loss. When you’re exposed to stress, your body releases hormones, including cortisol, which may prevent the brain from remembering new information or even retrieving already stored items.

Excessive stress can actually damage that part of the brain which is central to learning and memory. It’s called the hippocampus, and the problem centers around the continued secretion of corticosteroids or cortisol.

When your body perceives a threat, the adrenal glands release a hormone called adrenalin. If that perceived threat – and a threat can be defined as anything from a life-changing situation to a looming deadline at work – is long-term, your system attacks it by releasing cortisol through the adrenal glands. Cortisol remains in the brain for a longer period of time where it can adversely affect the brain cells.

You might think that improving your memory is pretty much hopeless, short of shutting out all the stress in your life. Cheer up! That’s not the case. Stress has another side effect on the body. Exposure to constant stress literally gobbles up your reserves of the vitamin B-complex vitamins in your system. And while that may sound like more bad news, it really leads us to a solution to stress-induced memory loss.

Research has discovered that simply by supplementing our diets with plenty of B vitamins, we can counter that memory fatigue. The B-complex of vitamins is really a family of eight related nutrients, including Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), folic acid, B12, pantothenic acid, Niacin (B3). B6, and biotin.

Another recent piece of research you might be interested in: Your system has more trouble dealing with stress when it’s low on the B-vitamins.

When it comes to B vitamins and stress, it’s a lot like that proverbial vicious circle. You’re under increased stress at work, let’s say. You body, then, tries to compensate by using more of the B-vitamins. You become dangerously depleted in these nutrients, and your body reacts by managing stress even more poorly, including a sagging memory.

Your brain, just like every other organ in your body, needs to be supplied with plenty of nutrients in order to perform at its peak efficiency. Overexposure to stress depletes your system’s reserves of vitamins. If you find that your memory is failing you and you know that you’ve been dealing with anxiety or stressful situations, consider supplementing your diet with some B-vitamins. You may find it’s just that easy to have a great memory again.

Resources: Natural Herbal Memory Supplement | Super Memory Secrets

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Filed Under: Memory

Bipolar Disorder: Maintaining a Stress Free Lifestyle

By Disabilities and Aging

Studies shows that in 60 percent of bipolar disorder cases, the first major depressive or manic episode is preceded by a significant stressor. Moreover, the more a person experiences mood swings, the more he or she is vulnerable to developing future relapses. Not only that, but relapses may diminish the effectiveness of drugs.

While bipolar disorder is not a medical condition that can be self-treated, there are several simple steps you can take to minimize your episodes and effectively manage bipolar disorder on a long-term basis.

Controlling levels of stress is a vital mental hygiene management technique. This can be done easily by creating a set of routine for themselves and augmenting it with some healthy habits, including exercise, healthy diet, nutritional supplements, and regular sleep habits.

According to several studies presented over the past few years, those who experienced disruptions in their normal daily activities – especially in their sleeping and eating habits – prove more susceptible to developing new episodes of mania and depression. They are also more vulnerable to experiencing more relapses in their symptoms. Experts agree that those who maintain predictable routines handle their bipolar symptoms much better.

A bipolar person must develop skills to cope with stress. Although most of us think of stress as exposure to bad situations, there is such a thing as “good” stress. Events that give you joy can be just as difficult to manage as traumatic, unpleasant events. Think of a wedding and the stresses involved. Exposure to stress can enhance both of manic and depressive episodes.

As an individual will respond differently to different circumstances, there are an endless number of activities that may be chronic stressors in their lives. Learn to identify these stressors, pay attention to life rhythms, and then establish a list of what you intend to do to minimize their impact on your life. Ideally, will be great to share this list with his family and close friends, they can help in trying to maintain a low-stress environment.

An important aspect of a daily routine for anyone with bipolar disorder is the necessity of keeping some semblance of an adequate sleep routine. Individuals with bipolar disorder appear to have a central nervous system that “commits errors.” The body’s hypothalamus regulates our internal clocks.

In individuals who suffer with bipolar disorder, this clock is difficult to regulate. Once the rhythms are disturbed – and it doesn’t take a great deal to disturb the rhythm of a person with bipolar disorder – it triggers a set of reactions. Disturbed patterns then affect the individual’s schedule for not only sleeping and waking, but a host of other routines as well.

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Filed Under: Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder: Nutrition As Medicine

By Disabilities and Aging

Treating bipolar disorder with prescription medications may be a necessary first step to get the symptoms of this disease under control. However, the drugs used for this health problem are indeed strong. For that reason, many people search for gentler, more natural approaches to tempering the episodes to provide some type of relief.

One good place to start, surprisingly enough, is with nutritional supplementation. Nutritional approaches to bipolar disorder are definitely gaining in popularity for two very good reasons. The first is that the side effects to prescriptions drugs are often harsh. And the second reason for popularity of nutritional approaches is simple: it works.

And perhaps the most remarkable of discoveries, made just a few years ago, involves the role of essential fatty acids in alleviating symptoms. Several studies have affirmed the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids.

One study followed 30 people with bipolar disorder who were given Omega-3 fatty acids for a period of four months. In that time they experienced fewer mood swings and had fewer recurrences of either depressive or manic episodes than the group given the placebo.

Other nutrients which medical science is just now recognizing include folic acid and other B vitamins, especially vitamin B12. The body uses both B12 and folic acid in the manufacture of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. It’s already established that a deficiency of either of these can prompt depression in an individual. But, now studies say that a deficiency of folic acid may also be related to the manic episodes of bipolar as well.

Some studies suggest that those with high levels of folic acid in their systems respond better to lithium treatment. In fact, a double-blind study showed that those who were given an additional 200 mcg of folic acid resulted in a clinical improvement in their condition. The group not given folic acid showed no improvement.

Vitamin C, already known for its beneficial effects on the immune system, may also help with manic and depressive episodes. A double-blind study discovered that following the administration of three grams of this nutrient, those experiencing either a depressive or a manic episode were greatly improved.

In a similar vein, many are now beginning to find their bipolar symptoms lessen when they avoid certain foods. Even individuals who previously didn’t think they possessed food sensitivities discover this when they avoid certain foods. Gluten is probably the most common food people cite being sensitive to. This protein is found in grains like wheat, rye, oats and barley. Others report when they steer clear of chocolate, their symptoms are not nearly as bad. Casein – a protein found in dairy products – triggers symptoms in yet other individuals.

If you eliminate all of these and still find your bipolar symptoms have not improved, then evaluate what you eat and drink. If you are consuming anything with aspartame, try eliminating this artificial sweetener from your diet. It appears to intensify the mood swings of bipolar disorder.

And if you suffer from hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, which can reduce the glucose supply to the brain, you may very well find that your symptoms may increase in severity. This can contribute to the manic and depressive episodes.

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Filed Under: Mental Health

Extreme Education Linked To Mental Health Disorders

By Disabilities and Aging

graduate Have you ever heard of, or encountered people who are mentally unstable because they know too much? Or are you sometimes regarded as having a mental health disorder because you’re highly educated? According to certain studies, adults who have a masters or doctor’s degree may be at risk for mental health issues compared to those without higher education. What’s a professional to do?