Is Your Brain Running on Low Energy? Chronic Stress Could Be the Culprit!
If you’ve been feeling scattered, exhausted, or mentally "off," you’re not imagining things — and you’re definitely not alone.
My counselor friend Shannon recently nailed it when she described how she felt: brain fog.
You know the drill — poor concentration, difficulty focusing, zero motivation. Lately, even putting on clean socks can feel like a major achievement.
Sound familiar? Good news: You're not broken — your brain is just running on low battery. And there’s a way to recharge.
What’s Actually Happening to Your Brain?
Let’s call it what it is: chronic stress. And chronic stress doesn’t just make you feel bad — it rewires your brain.
Here’s the simple version:
Fight-or-Flight Was Never Meant to Last This Long. When your brain detects a threat, it triggers your sympathetic nervous system — the famous "fight, flight, or freeze" response. You get a flood of cortisol and adrenaline — perfect for escaping immediate danger.
But when stress keeps hitting you day after day — news cycles, health scares, financial struggles, family problems — the system doesn’t shut off. Your brain stays stuck in emergency mode.
Chronic Stress Hijacks Your Brain’s Best Functions. Long-term high cortisol levels do real damage:
Memory gets weaker.
Focus gets slower.
Sleep gets worse (which worsens everything).
The hippocampus (your brain’s memory center) literally shrinks.
Result? You feel foggy, sluggish, anxious, and tired — like trying to run a computer with 87 tabs open and 2% battery left.
It's Not Just Fight-or-Flight Anymore. Chronic stress also scrambles other parts of your brain:
The amygdala (your fear center) goes into overdrive, making you reactive and jumpy.
The prefrontal cortex (your logic center) gets suppressed, making decision-making harder.
The hippocampus (your memory center) shrinks, making it harder to remember or learn.
In short:
➡️ Chronic stress keeps your body stuck in a survival state.
➡️ Your brain can’t think clearly when it's bracing for danger all the time.
➡️ The longer it drags on, the foggier you feel.
(Reference: McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873–904. doi:10.1152/physrev.00041.2006)
How to Start Recharging Your Brain
You don’t fix chronic stress with another cup of coffee. Instead, get back to basics — using your God-given wisdom to move forward. Here’s the 3-part framework:
1. Safety
Life feels unsafe and unpredictable when you’re dealing with chronic stress. Whether you’re worried about health, finances, or the future — uncertainty breeds fear.
Here’s what helps:
Talk it out. Find someone you trust and be honest about your stress.
Create small wins. Make your bed. Take a 5-minute walk. Little victories rebuild a sense of control.
Anchor yourself in Scripture.
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." — Psalm 4:8
2. Rest
No surprise here: your brain needs real rest to heal. Not just sleep — actual, deep recovery.
Here’s what doesn’t help:
Doomscrolling social media
Overloading your schedule
Constant multitasking
Here’s what does help:
Set a real bedtime.
Get sunlight in the morning.
Take mini digital detoxes (even a couple of hours offline can help).
Some of my counselees — Becki in Texas, Allie in the Midwest, Sarah on the East Coast — unplugged from social media for a few weeks. The result? Better sleep, fewer worries, real smiles.
Meanwhile, others who stayed glued to Instagram and Facebook saw their anxiety skyrocket. Not a coincidence.
3. Support
Going solo during a crisis is a bad idea. Isolation magnifies stress.
The antidote? Give support to get support.
One counselee in Ontario — brand-new Christian — didn’t know where to start. She began attending a church livestream and reached out to the secretary. Now, they pray together every week.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Final Word: You’re Not Broken
Chronic stress isn’t a character flaw. It’s a brain and body overload.
The good news? God hasn’t abandoned you. He’s right here, ready to walk with you out of the fog and into freedom.
If you're ready to recharge your brain and rebuild your life, start small.
Choose safety, rest, and support — and take the next right step. Ready to recharge your brain—and your life? Book a free consult and let’s get you moving forward again.
Quick Recap:
Chronic stress is ongoing pressure—not a one-time crisis.
It fries your brain and drains your energy.
Healing starts with three things: Safety, Rest, and Support.
You're not failing—you’re human. And there’s real hope.