Chapter 1. The Stress Response

Short Description

FTeresa, a corporate attorney, finds that the demands of her workplace and home are sometimes excessive and stressful. Under stress, the brain signals the release of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones can give us energy, strengthen our immune system, and improve our reflexes.

Long Description

Teresa, a corporate attorney, finds that the demands of her workplace and home are sometimes excessive and stressful. Under stress, the brain signals the release of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones can give us energy, strengthen our immune system, and improve our reflexes. They can even enhance our memory. However, if we are always under stress the release of cortisol begins to work against us. Researcher Bruce McEwen explains how chronic stress undermines our physical well-being. Chronic stress causes neurons in the brain to shrink. In animals, this produces increased anxiety, aggressiveness, and even symptoms of depression. Other researchers find that chronic stress accelerates aging and makes us more susceptible to disease. Damage can occur at the molecular level. The fraying of telomeres, which form the protective coating at the end of chromosomes, mimics the effects of aging. The improved technology of contemporary society, including the ready availability of cell phones and email, has created new sources of stress. Psychologist Christina Maslach suggests that those who do not manage stress well may become overwhelmed and eventually experience burnout. They work less effectively. Learning to control and even avoid stress can reverse the physiological damage that stress produces. Effective stress management strategies include relaxing with family, exercising, eating well, and, at times, ignoring those emails.

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