Your brain wasn’t built for nonstop pressure—and when stress becomes your norm, it quietly starts rewiring everything. From forgetfulness to emotional numbness, chronic stress can shrink parts of your brain responsible for memory, emotional regulation, and even creativity. It’s not just in your head; it is your head. This video breaks down how cortisol hijacks your brain’s wiring, what it looks like over time, and why burnout feels like you’re not even “you” anymore. Have you noticed yourself changing lately—maybe more than you’d like?

Credits:
Research/Script Writing: Psych2go
Voice over: tiffymluv
Animation: tiffymluv (new animator)
Thumbnail Design: Anilezah
Youtube Manager: Cindy Cheong
Assisted: Brisky Quach

Further readings:
McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873–904. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00041.2006

Lupien, S. J., McEwen, B. S., Gunnar, M. R., & Heim, C. (2009). Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(6), 434–445. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2639

Arnsten, A. F. T. (2009). Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(6), 410–422. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2648