19/08/2025
๐ Have you met your hippocampus?
๐ง Did you know that this part of your brain deals with your memory?
๐ง Did you know that it also plays a vital role in turning down your stress response hormone, cortisol?
Yep! ๐คฏ
๐งฌ Did you know that the hippocampus is also particularly sensitive to cortisol and, as such, is highly susceptible to damage when exposed to prolonged elevated levels of cortisol?
This is why many people have memory problems today. ๐
They don't realise that their stress levels are elevated because they have been up for so long that it is their new "norm".
If you are struggling with your memory, or if you find it hard to stop and not be distracted, it's worth considering that your chronic elevated baseline cortisol levels have been adapted to without you even knowing it.
๐ซ The brain's tolerance mechanisms can only reach so far before it starts to compensate and something is compromised.
โ ๏ธ The neurons (nerve cells) within the hippocampus begin to die from neurotoxicity, which leaves the brain struggling to remember things. And, because this beautiful brain structure also manages the downregulation of cortisol, it can no longer manage cortisol levels properly when the neurons die.
๐ Result:
A neurotoxic hippocampus = poor memory + repetitive cycle of stress + an over aroused nervous system + more cortisol.
I know this sounds disastrous, and you're right, this is definitely concerning, however, it is repairable!
New neurons can actually grow in this part of the adult brain ๐ฅณ๐ฅณ๐ฅณ
Meaning, welcome back memory and cortisol downregulation switch ๐ช๐ช๐ช
Here's the catch...
For new neurons to form, you need to actively and consciously do things to reduce your cortisol levels, which can be VERYYYYY hard to do when the brain and body get addicted to having large amounts of it flooding every cell.
๐งฉ So prioritising making change around the things that elevate your cortisol such as:
- watching your thoughts
- acknowledging your emotions
- managing your environment (exposure to conflict, misaligned behaviours, emotionally dysregulated people, high stimulus, etc)
- making decisions that help you, not hinder you
- noticing what things effect your nervous system and actively training it
- managing your exposure time to stimulus that demands your attention
will all help to retrain your brain.
If you need more help with this, I encourage you to have a look at my services to see how I can help guide you through the process in a safe and tailored way.
Happy brain training ๐ง ๐ช
โ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐
Clinical & Translational Neuroscientist | Neuroscience based intervention for trauma & stress | Neuroplasticity neurotherapy | Trauma & stress neuroeducation | Frontline stress & trauma training
"Understand your brain, body and behaviour through neuroscience"
~ Charlotte Moore
I invite you to contact me privately via private message, whatsapp, phone call, or email to ask any questions or discuss how I can help you or your organisation.
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