"During adolescence, the brain is still developing, particularly the systems involved in emotional regulation. Major hormonal changes, especially cortisol, influence how teenagers react to online traumatic content."
"The stress response triggered by a traumatic incident involves activation of the brain's amygdala, which leads to the release of cortisol from the adrenal gland, persisting until the cortex regulates the amygdala."
"When the stressor is intense or lasts a long time, the body produces higher levels of cortisol, which can reduce activity in the prefrontal cortex and weaken communication with the limbic system."
Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to traumatic content on social media due to ongoing brain development and hormonal changes, especially cortisol. The stress response involves the amygdala activating the HPA axis, leading to cortisol release. Initially, cortisol aids communication between the brain's thinking and emotion centers. However, prolonged exposure to stressors increases cortisol levels, which can impair prefrontal cortex function and disrupt communication with the limbic system, resulting in heightened emotional responses and difficulty in regulation.
Read at Psychology Today
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