When you are stressed, your brain shifts attention towards dealing with a perceived challenge or threat. This can be useful for short-term situations, but chronic stress may affect how you think, feel, and function. Common effects of stress on the mind may include: • Difficulty concentrating • Forgetfulness or mental fog • Racing or repetitive thoughts • Overthinking small decisions • Feeling constantly alert or restless • Irritability and emotional reactivity • Difficulty relaxing • Reduced motivation • Sleep disturbances During stress, the body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. In the short term, these help us respond quickly. But prolonged stress can interfere with attention, memory, emotional regulation, and sleep. This is why someone experiencing persistent stress may say, “I can’t think clearly, ” “My mind won’t switch off, ” or “I keep forgetting things.” These experiences do not necessarily mean there is a problem with intelligence or memory. They may reflect an overloaded stress response. Recognising how stress affects the brain and mental health is an important step towards effective stress management. Dr. Aditya Patil | Consultant Psychiatrist Mana Sajjana Clinic, Pimple Saudagar, Pune 9975573437