How A Negative Attitude Affects Your Health

Affects The Brain

Another result the body can have from a negative attitude and stress is the effect it can have on the brain. During stressful periods, the amygdala sends distress signals to the hypothalamus, triggering the flight or fight response, which then releases cortisol. During chronic stress, the sustained high levels of cortisol inhibit the brain's functionality. It can disrupt an individual's ability to socialize with others, increase the risk of mental illness such as depression, kill brain cells, and may even shrink the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for learning and memory. Chronic stress affects the brain by altering the brains structure from damaged neural pathways, and imbalances between the gray and white matter due to the overproduction of myelin.

Effects Other Organs

Due to the increased and prolonged flood of hormones, many other areas of the body can be damaged. The effects on other organs may go initially unnoticed, and many cases are misdiagnosed. The skin can experience a variety of dermatological problems such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. The stomach can suffer due to the inadequate absorption of nutrients from food, along with a change in gastric secretions. There are gut-related issues such as gastric ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and reflux disease. Stress is also related to many inflammatory diseases such as lupus, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis. The pancreas raises the amount of insulin, and if this is prolonged, can damage arteries, and lead to an increased risk of diabetes.