Compromised Judgment Under Stress in Adults: Causes and Coping Strategies

Veronica Silver
Published: 11/13/2025 | Updated: 11/19/2025
Authored by: Veronica Silver, MA
Edited by: Jemma Strain, B.S. Psychology
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Stress gets the best of all of us at one time or another. For instance, maybe we snap at our partners for putting the dishes away “wrong,” or send an email that we instantly regret. Under pressure, the mind often doesn’t pause to reason – it can race ahead to respond. It’s not that we forget how to make good decisions; it’s that stress temporarily hijacks the part of the brain responsible for judgment, empathy, and decision-making.

When we’re constantly overloaded with information, stimulation, and demands, many of us find it increasingly difficult to make clear-headed decisions. But understanding how and why stress changes the way we think and learning how to manage these moments can protect our mental health. 

This page can help you better understand compromised judgment under stress by exploring:

  • What compromised judgment under stress can look like, and the signs you might have it
  • The connection between impaired judgment and stress
  • Causes and triggers of poor judgment
  • The connection between executive function issues and mental health
  • Therapy and support for emotional dysregulation
  •  Responses to commonly asked questions about stress and impaired judgment
man sitting outside on step in front of door with head in hands due to compromised judgment under stress.

Understanding Compromised Judgment Under Stress

Stress often has a way of overriding our reasoning and leading to poorer choices. In fact, researchers at MIT discovered that chronic stress greatly impacts cost-benefit conflict (choosing between two options that have both positive and negative elements).1 

This effect happens because when we’re in fight-or-flight mode (the stress response), our brain diverts energy away from functions that it deems unnecessary for our survival. This may include reduced blood flow to the pre-frontal cortex – the area of the brain responsible for planning and decision-making.2

Decision-making is, of course, important for our survival. But, during stress, our brains and bodies are mostly focused on getting energy toward areas that will help us either fight or flee, like muscles and breathing. 

The following are some signs you might have impaired judgment under stress:

  • Acting before thinking, like speaking impulsively, spending money you didn’t plan to, or making hasty decisions just to release some stress
  • Experiencing analysis paralysis – overanalyzing or freezing up when you can’t make decisions
  • Having a harder time separating what matters from what simply feels urgent
  • Feeling more irritable or defensive, as if criticism or minor disagreements are personal
  • Putting off decisions or withdrawing to escape the pressures of making a choice. Alternatively, you might swing to the other extreme by making rash decisions just to feel in control again

When stress begins to override reflection and perspective, this might be a signal that your nervous system is in overdrive.

The Science Behind Impaired Judgment and Stress

When we’re calm, the prefrontal cortex in the brain helps us weigh consequences and make decisions. However, during stressful moments, the brain releases chemicals (neurotransmitters called “catecholamines”) that impair the functioning of the prefrontal cortex and strengthen the part of the brain responsible for emotions like fear and anxiety.3 

Because of this, there’s often a strong relationship between impulsive decisions and anxiety, in which we make decisions just to decrease our anxiety, even if they’re not the best ones. For example, drinking a little too much alcohol due to anxiety about a presentation, or spending too much money after a stressful work day.

Chronic stress can also keep the nervous system on high alert, which may dull the brain’s sensitivity to long-term consequences.4 Instead of evaluating situations with curiosity and flexibility, we tend to react automatically. In short, stress doesn’t erase our ability to make sound choices; it temporarily reroutes it.

Common Causes and Triggers of Poor Judgment

Compromised judgment is often caused or triggered by stress that develops gradually when we become overextended in our lives. The more frequently we operate under stress, the harder it becomes for our brains to slow down and reflect in order to make balanced decisions.

While we all experience stress differently (and some people may thrive on it), there are certain external factors that make decision-making harder, such as:

Chronic Workplace Demands

When long hours, tight deadlines, or unclear expectations become routine, stress hormones can remain elevated.5 Over time, always being “on” can lead to burnout and reduced focus and patience, which can result in hasty judgment calls.

Multitasking

Focusing on or processing too many things at once can tax short-term memory and decision-making capability.6 So, when our brains are overloaded with information, even small tasks can feel impossible to complete clearly and efficiently. 

Lack of Sleep and Rest

Sleep deprivation and not getting enough rest can compound stress, making concentration and self-control harder to maintain.7 Without enough rest, the brain may begin to rely on instinct rather than reasoning, which can cause impulsive or avoidant decisions.

The Connection Between Bad Decision-Making And Mental Health

Not all compromised decisions come from outside sources. Sometimes, it’s our internal struggles that contribute to poor decision-making. 

Some psychological factors that can result in impaired judgment are:

Trauma

Unresolved trauma is often a cause of risky behavior because the trauma may leave the brain on constant alert for danger.8 Plus, when faced with new stress, poor judgment and impulsive decisions can emerge as the nervous system seeks a sense of relief or control. These are often protective patterns that have become misdirected.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders, like depression and bipolar disorder, can impair judgment, making it more difficult to manage decision-making. 

For instance, bipolar disorder can especially lead to impaired judgment during manic or hypomanic episodes. During these episodes, elevated energy often leads to risky behaviors, impulsive spending, or rapid decision-making without considering the consequences.9

Addiction

Addiction and poor judgment often go hand-in-hand as substance clouds judgment. This is because, under stress, the brain’s reward system becomes more vulnerable to seeking relief through familiar habits.10 Patterns of substance use may therefore reinforce short-term comfort at the expense of long-term well-being.

Therapy For Impulse Control and Better Judgment

The goal of therapy for improving impulse control for better judgment isn’t about “fixing” your thoughts, but rather finding ways to manage stress for behavior changes. Judgment can improve when the nervous system feels safe and the mind has space to reflect. 

The following are some evidence-based approaches for improving judgment when stressed:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of the most effective approaches for understanding how stress influences our thoughts and behaviors.11 By teaching us how to identify our automatic reactions, such as assuming the worst or taking on too much, and replacing those thoughts with realistic thinking, we can retrain the brain to pause before reacting.

Mindfulness and Grounding Practices

Mindfulness and grounding practices are associated with keeping us focused on the present moment rather than spiraling into stress or anxiety. For instance, techniques like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation can help us recognize when stress is rising and teach us to quiet the mind. With regular practice, we can strengthen our awareness, gain emotional control, and learn how to make more informed decisions.12 

Behavioral Strategies for Slowing Down Decisions

Creating intentional pauses between stimulus and response is crucial for improving decision-making. Try setting short “decision buffers,” such as waiting 24 hours before replying to a stressful email or delaying major choices until you’ve rested. Journaling or talking through decisions with a trusted person can also help reveal emotions that might be driving the urge to act impulsively.

Emotion-Focused and Somatic Therapies

These therapies target the physical sensations and emotions that accompany stress. By learning how to tolerate discomfort and stay present with difficult feelings, you can develop emotional regulation skills that provide a sense of control and trust in your internal signals. In other words, emotional regulation reduces the need for impulsive behaviors that temporarily numb anxiety or frustration.13

Mission Connection: Support for Stress-Related Cognitive Challenges

At Mission Connection, we provide mental health crisis support and emotional dysregulation help so you can regain confidence in your decision-making. By using approaches like CBT, mindfulness, and emotion-focused therapy, we’ll support you in learning how to calm the nervous system and rebuild self-trust.

When stress starts to cloud your perspective, you don’t have to manage it by yourself. Get started with Mission Connection today to reconnect with your confidence and clarity at a pace that feels right for you.

woman working on laptop with headphones on smiling after support for compromised judgement under stress.

FAQs About Stress and Anxiety-Related Impulsivity

If you have any remaining questions about stress and anxiety-related impulsivity, the team at Mission Connection is always available to help. In the meantime, the following responses to FAQs about the topic may also work to put your mind at ease. 

1. Can Stress Help Me Make Better Decisions?

Some people say they thrive under pressure. But this could be because the release of stress hormones, like adrenaline, can make us more alert. However, this does not necessarily mean you’ll make better decisions. In fact, research more often shows how stress negatively impacts judgment rather than improves it.14

2. Can Chronic Stress Permanently Affect My Ability to Make Good Decisions?

No, chronic stress will not always affect your decision-making. While long-term stress can change how the brain processes information and manages emotion, once you give yourself time to rest, you can reverse these effects.

3. How Can I Tell When Stress Is Starting to Cloud My Judgment?

You might be able to tell when stress is clouding your judgment by identifying early warning signs. These might include irritability, difficulty concentrating, second-guessing decisions, or feeling detached from your usual sense of perspective. You may also notice “all-or-nothing” thinking or strong reactions to small frustrations. Recognizing these patterns early gives you a chance to pause and regulate before making decisions.

4. How Can Mission Connection Treat Stress-Related Judgment Issues?

Our outpatient treatment uses a personalized approach to helping you manage any mental health concerns you might be having, including impaired judgment related to stress. We’ll provide you with the tools to manage stress, using evidence-based approaches, so you can feel calmer and more centered, enabling you to make more balanced decisions. 

References

  1. Friedman, A., Homma, D., Bloem, B., Gibb, L. G., Amemori, K., Hu, D., Delcasso, S., Truong, T. F., Yang, J., Hood, A. S., Mikofalvy, K. A., Beck, D. W., Nguyen, N., Nelson, E. D., Arana, S. E. T., Bruegge, R. H. V., Goosens, K. A., & Graybiel, A. M. (2017). Chronic stress alters Striosome-Circuit dynamics, leading to aberrant Decision-Making. Cell, 171(5), 1191-1205.e28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.10.017
  2. Arnsten, A. F. T. (2009). Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function. Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 10(6), 410–422. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2648
  3. Arnsten, A. F., Raskind, M. A., Taylor, F. B., & Connor, D. F. (2014). The effects of stress exposure on prefrontal cortex: Translating basic research into successful treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder. Neurobiology of Stress, 1, 89–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2014.10.002
  4. American Psychological Association. (2023, March 8). Stress effects on the body. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body
  5. Lennartsson, A., Sjors, A., Wahrborg, P., Ljung, T., & Jonsdottir, I. H. (2015). Burnout and Hypocortisolism – A Matter of Severity? A Study on ACTH and Cortisol Responses to Acute Psychosocial Stress. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00008
  6. Uncapher, M. R., & Wagner, A. D. (2018). Minds and brains of media multitaskers: Current findings and future directions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(40), 9889–9896. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1611612115
  7. Khan, M. A., & Al-Jahdali, H. (2023). The consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Neurosciences, 28(2), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.17712/nsj.2023.2.20220108
  8. Kearney, B. E., & Lanius, R. A. (2022). The brain-body disconnect: A somatic sensory basis for trauma-related disorders. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.1015749
  9. Mason, L., O’Sullivan, N., Montaldi, D., Bentall, R. P., & El-Deredy, W. (2014). Decision-making and trait impulsivity in bipolar disorder are associated with reduced prefrontal regulation of striatal reward valuation. Brain, 137(8), 2346–2355. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awu152
  10. Pool, E. R., & Sander, D. (2019). Vulnerability to relapse under stress: insights from affective neuroscience. Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift, 149. https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2019.20151
  11. Curtiss, J. E., Levine, D. S., Ander, I., & Baker, A. W. (2021). Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for Anxiety and Stress-Related Disorders. FOCUS the Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, 19(2), 184–189. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20200045
  12. Shortland, N. D., McGarry, P., Thompson, L., Stevens, C., & Alison, L. J. (2021). The effect of a 3-Minute Mindfulness intervention, and the mediating role of maximization, on critical incident Decision-Making. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.674694
  13. Zhang, R., Zhang, C., & Huang, L. (2025). Emotional regulation self-efficacy and impulsivity effects on college students’ risk-taking behavior: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1566618
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