When you complain too much, it triggers a chain reaction in the brain due to the release of stress hormone cortisol, which has notable short-term and long-term effects
Whenever something bad happens, everyone vents their frustration regarding the situation. It gets repeated whenever the same things happen again. And so, you keep complaining about the circumstances and the state of affairs every time things do not go your way.
Pretty soon, you will become a pro at complaining, protesting, and whining, because while practice may not make perfect, it does make myelin - a microscopic neural substance that adds a lot of speed and accuracy to thoughts and movement. According to studies, myelin is kind of like a muscle, except instead of strengthening your body, it strengthens neural pathways related to a particular skill. While your neural pathways may not be equipped to make value judgments, repeating an action again and again – whether positive or negative, can help you gain a skill or habit.
However, if those actions are always complaining and feeling negative, you will build a destructive skill.
Repeated complaining releases cortisol
Experts say when you grumble, it triggers a chain reaction in the brain due to the release of stress hormone cortisol, which has notable short-term and long-term effects. When the cortisol increases, it causes a persistent state of stress that impairs cognitive function, reducing your brain’s ability to think critically, and affecting memory.
The hippocampus part of your brain - mainly responsible for memory and decision making also gets affected as you continue to make a fuss over things – having a negative impact on its structure as well as its function, altering your behaviour.
Also, whenever the neurons of your brain cells get triggered due to negative behaviour, they begin to create small gaps at the end, allowing the electric or chemical signal to pass from one neuron to another – lagging time and causing a muscle memory issue as well.
What should you do instead of complaining?
According to experts, it is important to first recognize how you would respond to anything that is not predetermined – because how you react to any given situation is always a choice. So, if something bad happens to or around you, you can find a way to respond, always calmly.
Doctors also believe focusing on problems rather than solutions makes the prefrontal cortex – the area of your brain involved in logical thinking and decision-making - less active. This ends up making it harder for you to think clearly or resolve issues regarding the complaint you have. Hence, focus more on problem-solving, than reacting.
According to experts, one of the best ways to stop complaining is to write things that frustrates you in a journal with both the problem and your feelings about it. Then, brainstorm your feelings about it and see the positives in your situation.
What happens to other body parts when you complain too much?
Prolonged exposure to negative ideas and feelings can lead to many other health issues, which include:
- Weakening of the immune system
- Increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease
- High anxiety and depression
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