So it makes sense that this part of the brain would be involved in stress. If you get caught up focusing on problems and are unable to move toward focusing on solutions and opportunities then you will feel more stressed. The Chinese have a saying that on the flip-side of every problem is an opportunity. When you exercise and increase the ability of your hippocampus, you help yourself get past the stress of problems and focus on how to solve them.



The question remains, though, as to whether a smaller hippocampus makes you more susceptible stress, or whether stress itself actually shrinks your hippocampus. The answer appears to be both.

The hippocampus happens to be the one place in the adult human brain where we continually make new brain cells. So the rate at which we make brain cells has an affect on the size of the hippocampus. Well, exercise increases the rate of making new brain cells and increases the size of the hippocampus – protecting you against stress.

If you are not currently exercising, I challenge you to work with your doctor to develop a sustainable exercise routine that you enjoy. This part is important. If you don't enjoy it, you won't stick to it. Find something physical that elevates your heart rate and gets you sweating a little – even if it's just playing an active game on the Wii!