Member-only story
Chronic Stress Can Damage Your Brain
Daily habits that knock out stress and keep our brain healthy
How many times a day do you think about your brain? If you’re like most people, you probably don’t unless you have a headache. Then, we can think of nothing else.
I’ve been thinking about my brain lately since I had a cluster of aura headaches that might have triggered a transient ischemic attack(TIA). While a TIA mimics some of the symptoms associated with a stroke, it is brief, leaves no permanent damage or trace of its passing — and it is scary as hell.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Often called a ministroke, a TIA may be a warning. About 1 in 3 people who [suffer] a TIA will eventually have a stroke, with about half occurring within a year after the TIA. A TIA can serve as both a warning of a future stroke and an opportunity to prevent it.”
After a battery of tests, my neurologist assured me that my brain was healthy and normal for a woman of my age. While relieved, I am heeding the TIA warning and exploring how to improve my brain health, starting with my constant companion and evil nemesis: stress.
Managing chronic stress
Stress is endemic, epidemic, and pervasive, and there’s nowhere to hide. I’ve spent my career and life dealing…
