What brain structures rouse us from inactivity and set in motion our defense mechanisms when a stressor is perceived? Predictably, the brain’s older and more primordial area, the so-called animal brain, where the hypothalamus, the amygdala, the hippocampus, the septum area, the basal ganglia and the thalamus are located. These structures, collectively called the limbic…
Tips and coaching for making sense of stress.
Monthly Archives: April 2010
Stresshack #7: Just Enough Anxiety
Too much anxiety forces impulsive action. When the choice between fight or flight is invariably fight, personal power and sheer determination can make things happen. Hastily taking charge of the situation however can also be a sign of anxiety brought on by low self esteem, insecurity and fear of failure. Emotional decision making prompted by…
Spirituality, Longevity and Stress Reduction
A recent article published on Medscape Internal Medicine [i] reiterates research evidence showing that church attendance can affect well-being through social integration and support and that spiritual experiences that provide a sense of purpose and meaning may promote hope and positively influence depression and marriage satisfaction, reduce alcohol use and prevent drug abuse. Church affiliation…
Successful Leadership: What Does It Take?
In reporting the results of a global survey, Michael Haid discusses the factors that contribute most to exceptional leadership performance. It turns out that it is not what leaders know, i.e. their skill set, but it is how they fit in their company’s culture, how they are motivated by opportunities within the organization, and how…
Research News: Stress and IVF
Researchers at the University of Aarhus in Denmark have uncovered preliminary evidence that appears to suggest a link between stress and the chances of success with in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Unlike other studies that focused on stress caused by infertility and the IVF treatment itself, this study[i] analyzed non-fertility-related, naturally occurring life stressors. Specifically, this research…
eClass 1: A Primer on Stress
Stress results from an imbalance between demands and resources[i] Stress is the psychological, physiological and behavioral response by an individual when they perceive a lack of equilibrium between the demands placed upon them and their ability to meet those demands, which, over time, leads to ill-health[ii] Stress occurs when pressure exceeds our perceived ability to…
Coaching Insights: Stretched or Stressed
Whether work demands stress or simply stretch is a subjective assessment and is often a matter of degree or accumulation. Subjectively, what may be stressful for one individual may be stimulating or productive in another. I’ve been an air traffic controller at Kennedy International Airport for 20 years. Most people would call this job high-stress,…
Stress Management and IBD: A Viable Option?
There is increasing research evidence that psychological stress and the mood disorders that often accompany it are linked with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While emerging trial evidence supports the suggestion that psychotherapy may improve IBD-associated mood disorders, some data indicate that stress management has a beneficial effect on the course of IBD. Unfortunately, there is…
Research News: Can Stress Kill?
Copenhagen – Researchers assessed the effect of psychological stress on total and cause-specific mortality among men and women. Danish participants in the Copenhagen City Heart Study were asked two questions on stress intensity and frequency in 1981 and were followed in a nationwide for twenty-three years. The results show that men with high stress had…
Stresshack #6: EMDR Yourself
The technique of bilateral brain stimulation has an immediate effect on the mood, acting as a powerful and almost instantaneous relaxant. It is easy to do on yourself. Whenever bothered by distressing thoughts that do not seem to go away, find a quiet spot and move your eyes alternatively from the leftmost spot of your…
History of Stress: Then and Now
The stress response, which occurs when we are threatened or when we perceive a threat, has a long history in human development. In its evolution, prehistoric and historic humans have experienced significant environmental stressors. These stressor influenced our genetic development. The principle of natural selection favored individuals who efficiently conserved energy, endured dehydration, successfully fought…
Stress Software: You Survived Monday Morning?
Is There a Better Time of Day to Have a Heart Attack? This question was asked by Dr. David J. Lefer of the Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta in a study published this February. (1) According to Dr. Lefer, it is widely accepted that the time…
Stresshack #5: The Being and Doing of Stress
Getting things done is important. In most organizations, from the family unit to the corporation and the nation, performance is often and sometimes exclusively evaluated on its basis. But the doing of important and not so important tasks needs to be in sync with our unique and private way of being in the world. The…
The Compound Interest of Stress
What makes chronic stress potentially lethal is its duration and the constant accumulation of its effects. Stress upon stress grows like compound interest on a loan. When only the minimum payment is made, the balance continues to grow and can never be fully repaid. Humans respond to stressors such as physical or perceived danger, an…
5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Stress
Stress is often defined as entirely harmful. Nary a moment goes by without someone reminding us that “stress is bad for you!” The fact is, stress is good, in at least five different ways. 1: Stress is a survival mechanism of the human species We cannot function well without at least some amount of…