Chronic stress is the response of the brain to unpleasant events for a prolonged period over which an individual perceives he or she has no control. It involves an endocrine system response in which occurs a release of corticosteroids. If this continues for a long time, it can cause damage to an individual's physical and mental health.
Linked to impairment of the medial prefrontal cortex are deficits in the part of the striatum with which it is linked.[7] This can bias decision-making strategies, as affected individuals shift from flexible behavior to one dominated by habit.[7] Changes also occur to dopaminergic activity in the prefrontal cortex.[5]
Symptoms
In humans, symptoms of chronic stress can vary from anxiety, depression, social isolation, headache, abdominal pain or lack of sleep to back pain and difficulty concentrating.
Other symptoms include:
In severe cases it can lead to panic attacks or a panic disorder. Stress plays a role in triggering or worsening depression and cardiovascular disease and in speeding the progression of HIV/AIDS.[9]
^Sapolsky RM. (1998). Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: An Updated Guide To Stress, Stress Related Diseases, and Coping. 2nd Rev Ed, W. H. Freeman ISBN 978-0716732105
^Sousa N, Lukoyanov NV, Madeira MD, Almeida OF, Paula-Barbosa MM. (2000). Reorganization of the morphology of hippocampal neurites and synapses after stress-induced damage correlates with behavioral improvement. Neuroscience.97(2):253-66. PMID 0799757
^Cernak I, Savic V, Kotur J, Prokic V, Kuljic B, Grbovic D, Veljovic M. (2000). Alterations in magnesium and oxidative status during chronic emotional stress. Magnes Res. 13(1):29–36. PMID 10761188
