How Stress and Inflammation Impact Your Child’s Brain and Behavior
As parents, we often think of stress as something that affects adults—work deadlines, financial worries, or life pressures. But what if I told you that stress is a huge factor in your child’s brain development, behavior, and even their risk for neurological disorders?
In a recent episode of Unraveling the Brain with Dr. Josh Madsen, Lucia Silver shared her son’s dramatic story—how his personality changed overnight due to a condition called PANS/PANDAS, triggered by an autoimmune response in his brain. While infections like strep and mold exposure played a role, stress and inflammation were the hidden culprits making everything worse.
Stress is Inflammatory—Here’s Why That Matters
Stress isn’t just an emotional response—it’s a physiological one. When the body experiences stress, it triggers an inflammatory cascade that can disrupt brain function.
Cortisol Overload: Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, which, when prolonged, suppresses the immune system and fuels inflammation in the brain.
Frontal Lobe Shutdown: The frontal lobes (responsible for attention, emotional regulation, and impulse control) are one of the first areas to be affected by stress. This can lead to impulsivity, mood swings, and learning difficulties.
Gut-Brain Connection: Stress increases gut permeability (aka “leaky gut”), allowing toxins and inflammatory molecules to enter the bloodstream and worsen neurological symptoms.
The Perfect Storm: Stress + Inflammation
It’s rarely one thing that triggers neurological dysfunction—it’s a combination of stressors that build over time.
Hidden Infections: Strep, mycoplasma, viral infections, or mold toxicity create an inflammatory load.
Food Sensitivities: Processed foods, gluten, dairy, or glyphosate exposure add to the body’s stress response.
Environmental Toxins: Pesticides, heavy metals, and household chemicals contribute to chronic inflammation.
School and Social Stress: Pressure to perform, lack of movement, and sensory overload can push an already compromised system over the edge.
For Lucia’s son, the stress of school combined with underlying infections led to a rapid behavioral and cognitive regression. One day, he was fine. The next, he was struggling to write, ticcing uncontrollably, and unable to stay in class.
How to Break the Cycle: Supporting the Stressed and Inflamed Brain
If your child is showing signs of neurological distress, emotional dysregulation, or sudden regression, addressing stress and inflammation can make a world of difference.
Balance Blood Sugar: Unstable blood sugar increases stress hormones and inflammation. Ensure your child eats protein, healthy fats, and fiber at each meal.
Optimize Sleep: Poor sleep increases cortisol and worsens brain inflammation. Try magnesium, melatonin, or blue light-blocking glasses in the evening.
Reduce Toxic Load: Remove processed foods, artificial dyes, and inflammatory triggers like gluten and dairy.
Prioritize Movement: Movement builds the brain! Encourage crawling, balance work, and vestibular exercises to support neurological function.
Create a Low-Stress Environment: Slow down, remove unnecessary demands, and ensure your child has downtime to regulate.
Final Thoughts: The Body Wants to Heal
Lucia shared a powerful realization:
“We’re not battling against something that doesn’t want to happen. The body wants to heal—we just need to remove the things getting in the way.”
If your child is struggling, don’t wait for it to “go away.” Look at the stress and inflammation factors now, and start making changes.