There is pressure everywhere in life, and appropriate pressure can help you better cope with work and study, but when the pressure persists for a long time or exceeds your ability to resist stress, it will also produce "brain fatigue", which will cause brain function disorders, and even a series of psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Why does the brain "go down"? From the perspective of neurochemical transmitters, let's take a look at how such a physiological condition occurs.

5-Serotonin

慢性壓力會影響腦中與情緒調節有關的神經遞質，其中最突出的是5-羥色胺，也就是日常抗抑鬱葯5-羥色胺再攝取抑製劑（SSRI）所調節的化學物質。

所謂5-羥色胺，最初是在血清中發現的，因此它還有個名字——血清素。血清素在人體大腦皮層中含量很高，參與人體情緒、記憶、認知等多方面的大腦活動。作為一種“快樂因數”，5-羥色胺可以使人產生愉悅情緒，如體內濃度過低，就會出現抑鬱、焦慮、失眠等心理健康問題。

人體在慢性壓力下，大腦的5-羥色胺通常會慢慢耗竭，久而久之就會出現悶悶不樂、煩躁易怒、無故地擔憂、緊張、渾身乏力等負性感受，而這些消極情緒又進一步影響大腦認知功能，如注意力不集中、自我感覺不良等，迴圈往復，漸漸在不知不覺中踏入了無盡深淵。

γ-aminobutyric acid

There is also a neurochemical associated with stress, γ-aminobutyric acid, which is an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system.

γ-aminobutyric acid can inhibit the transmission of certain nerve signals in the human brain, such as sympathetic nerve signals that cause physical excitation, so it has the effect of stabilizing mood and improving sleep. Under normal circumstances, the human body can mobilize γ-aminobutyric acid to resist stress-induced anxiety and other nervous and excited states to achieve the purpose of soothing. However, when stress is too high, the γ-aminobutyric acid in the brain will continue to be depleted, resulting in persistent tension and gradual chronicity of stress state, followed by insomnia, anxiety, fatigue and other discomforts. Insomnia, in turn, affects the synthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid, which eventually leads to the failure of the brain's "natural brakes".

Melatonin

For the neurochemical melatonin, in fact, many people are familiar with it, and even have taken drugs containing this ingredient.

Melatonin is the neurohormone secreted by the "pineal gland" in the brain, and its secretion has a circadian rhythm, that is, it is less secreted by light during the day and more secreted at night, which can promote sleep and regulate the wake cycle. Melatonin levels are also age-related, and as we age, the secretion of melatonin in the brain decreases and sleep time decreases. When the body is under chronic stress or has developed emotional problems, it will not only affect the normal secretion of melatonin, but also cause the "sleep-wake" rhythm to be disturbed due to abnormal secretion.

In the face of pressure, we must learn to correctly use "fight and escape", solve problems within our ability, change negative thinking patterns, ensure sufficient sleep after busy work and study, so that the brain can be fully rested, and at the same time, we can learn relaxation training, mindfulness meditation and other relaxation techniques to deal with tension. If you have severe mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and insomnia, do not feel stigmatized and should go to a psychiatric department in time to seek evaluation and treatment from a professional doctor.

【Department Introduction】

Mass spectrometry subspecialty of the Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University

檢驗科質譜亞專科在國內率先將LC-MS/MS技術應用於臨床領域。目前，該亞專科擁有14台液相色譜質譜檢測儀器、2台電感耦合等離子體質譜儀以及1台高解析度質譜儀。在類固醇激素、兒茶酚胺類激素、治療藥物監測等檢測項目的研發與臨床轉化方面，積累了豐富的實踐經驗，取得了豐碩的科研成果。截至目前，質譜亞專科已開展166項臨床質譜檢測專案，年檢測量高達40余萬次。

(The author is a professor and director of the Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Director of the Department of Psychological Medicine, Fudan University, Chief Physician)

Chronic stress causes the brain to "shut down", which is closely related to these neurochemicals

Column Editor-in-Chief: Gu Yong Text Editor: Gu Yong

Source: Author: Guo Wei Huang Ming

[Source: Shangguan News]