Why does our body hit rock bottom like this? The concepts of 'internal injury' and 'damage by the seven emotions' in Donguibogam align remarkably well with the 'chronic stress response' from the perspective of modern neurology and endocrinology. Continuous stress excessively activates the brain's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is the core system that triggers the fight-or-flight response to combat or escape stress. While it initially helps our body cope with stress, lasting too long causes adverse effects.
The first thing to break down is the balance of cortisol, the stress hormone. Initially, cortisol surges to temporarily provide energy, but over time, the adrenal gland becomes exhausted and its capacity to secrete cortisol drops. While chronically high cortisol levels are problematic, steeply lowered cortisol levels from adrenal exhaustion also induce severe fatigue and lethargy. This is the main reason we feel exhausted and drained.
Furthermore, severe imbalances occur in brain neurotransmitters. Key neurotransmitters like serotonin for happiness and stability, dopamine for motivation and reward, and norepinephrine for concentration and arousal become depleted or fail to function properly due to chronic stress. Thoughts and feelings such as having no joy, feeling unable to start anything, and sensing that the mind will not work stem from these neurotransmitter abnormalities. Specifically, hypofunction of the dopaminergic system is pointed out as a primary cause of lost passion and lethargy.
In addition, chronic stress impairs frontal lobe function. The frontal lobe is a critical region governing reason, judgment, decision-making, and emotional regulation. Being vulnerable to stress, its hypofunction can lead to impulsivity, clouded judgment, and difficulty regulating emotions over trivial matters. This explains why one might explode over things normally brushed off or feel extreme pressure from minor tasks.
Inflammatory responses in the body even increase. High stress disrupts the immune system, making the body susceptible to chronic low-grade inflammation, which can create a vicious cycle that worsens fatigue and impairs brain function. It can also reduce the function of mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells, hindering energy production at the cellular level.
Thus, burnout does not stem merely from mental weakness; it is a serious SOS signal sent when the brain, hormones, and bodily systems reach their limits. We must remember that this is not simple fatigue, but a warning light for the survival of our body and mind. It is never an individual weakness.
