2023-12-25 19:49:00
“Complaining, complaining and getting angry all the time can have a negative effect on the brain and overall health” (Getty)
Although, increasingly, people are concerned regarding their emotional well-being, and are aware of the importance of good mental health for better overall health, there is a daily habit that few register as harmful and that affects cognitive function. According to neuroscience experts, complaining has considerable consequences for mental and brain health.
This is a common and almost unconscious practice for most people, which, however, is by no means harmless. On the contrary, this practice is so ingrained in everyday language that it is often overlooked, despite the negative impact that Stanford University researchers found it has on emotional well-being.
The experts discovered that exposing yourself to complaints for 30 minutes a day can physically damage the brain, affecting neurons in the hippocampus, essential for problem solving and cognitive functioning.
When a person complains, their body interprets the situation as an emergency (Getty)
This exposure also causes physical damage: the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain used for learning and memory, is reduced, so people think less clearly, have less attention and problem-solving ability, according to the study. study.
Furthermore, as stated by Dr. Travis Bradberry in his book How Complaining Rewires Your Brain For Negativity, “complaining not only expresses negativity, it rewires the brain so that future complaints arise more easily.”
And he warned: “This pattern of negative behavior alters the perception that others have of oneself.”
According to neuroscience experts, complaining has considerable consequences for mental and brain health (Getty)
When a person complains, their body interprets the situation as an emergency, which leads to the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the release of cortisol – the stress hormone -, explained neurologist Lucia Zavala, who added that ” “This state of alertness leads the brain to remodel its neurons and dendrites, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity.”
Neurologist Alejandro Andersson (MN 65,836), director of the Buenos Aires Neurology Institute (INBA), agreed with her, who pointed out: “Complaining, complaining and getting angry all the time can have a negative effect on the brain and health in general. ”. And he listed three main reasons why this is so.
1- Affects brain chemistry
“When we complain, lament, or get angry, our brain releases stress hormones like cortisol, which can negatively affect our mood, cognitive ability, and overall health. Especially when this becomes chronic and repetitive,” explained the neurologist.
Complaining is an almost automatic everyday habit, which few people identify as harmful to health (Getty)
2- Reinforces negative patterns
“If we get used to focusing on the negative and constantly complaining, this can create negative patterns, that is, negative neural circuits in our brain and predispose us to see the bad instead of the good,” argued the specialist.
3- Interferes with problem solving
At this point, Andersson explained: “When we are in a state of complaint or anger, our brain is less able or blocked to solve problems effectively, since we cannot think clearly, our ability to concentrate, pay attention and executive intelligence decrease. ”.
For Zavala, the seriousness of the case lies in the fact that “despite the temptation to relieve stress by complaining, its long-term impact can be harmful, similar to habits such as smoking or eating fast food.” And he expanded: “Changes in gene activity caused by an unhealthy lifestyle may not be completely reversible.”
Finding spaces away from complaining stimuli helps the brain (Getty)
Finally, research from the University of California found that cultivating an attitude of gratitude can improve mood, energy, and reduce anxiety by lowering cortisol levels.
In his book Three Simple Steps: A Map to Success in Business and Life, Trevor Blake described how brain activity is influenced by various stimuli, including complaints.
And he suggested three strategies to defend yourself once morest negativity:
1- Take distance: like the damage that tobacco causes to passive smokers, Blake advised staying away from negative situations to protect the brain.
2- Confront the complainer: Asking the complainer to look for solutions can be an effective strategy to change the focus of the conversation.
3- Provide yourself with mental shields: Using mental techniques, such as imagining yourself in a quiet place, can help block the negative effects of complaints.
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