Did you know complaining can alter your brain functions? Here’s what happens

 

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Curious, we reached out to experts to understand how complaining affects the brain.

Complaining releases cortisol hormone

Dr Sheetal Goyal, consultant neurologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, said that when we complain, it triggers a chain reaction in the brain that can have notable short-term and long-term effects.

“Complaining activates the amygdala, the part of the brain that processes emotions such as stress and fear. This activation releases stress hormones like cortisol, which are designed to help the body respond to immediate challenges.”

According to her, frequent complaining can cause elevated cortisol levels, and this leads to a persistent state of stress that can impair cognitive function, reduce the brain’s ability to think critically, and affect memory.

Physical changes in brain

Juhi Pandey, psychologist at Mpower helpline department, said that the hippocampus is a part of the brain mainly responsible for memory and decision making, and complaining can have an impact on its structure as well as the function, altering behaviour.

“When we complain, we are trying to escape self-blame and put the onus on external factors,” said Dr Parth Nagda, consultant, psychiatry, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai.

According to him, focusing on problems rather than solutions makes the prefrontal cortex––involved in logical thinking and decision-making––less active. This also ends up making it harder to think clearly or solve the issues you are complaining about.

Frequent complaining can cause elevated cortisol levels, which leads to a persistent state of stress (Source: Freepik)

Rewiring of the brain

Dr Goyal also said that repeated complaining rewires the brain for negativity. “Neurons that frequently fire together begin to form stronger connections, making it easier for the brain to default to negative thinking patterns.” This is known as neuroplasticity, which essentially means the more you complain, the more likely you are to keep complaining because the brain becomes more efficient at it.

After complaining, it can take some time for the brain to recover. On average, according to Dr Goyal, cortisol levels can remain elevated for up to 30 minutes following a negative interaction.

Other bodily effects of complaining

In terms of long-term effects, chronic complaining can lead to health issues. “Prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol can weaken the immune system, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and contribute to anxiety and depression. It can also lead to a general reduction in life satisfaction, as habitual negative thinking makes it difficult to focus on positive outcomes and solutions,” Dr Goyal said.

To counter and reduce these effects, she suggested following practices like mindfulness, gratitude, and cognitive restructuring to help retrain the brain toward more constructive, positive thought patterns.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.