Research affirms without doubt that stress literally shrinks the human brain.
Scary ... but it’s also true that stress masks as diligence while it shaves years off lives of those who ignore its masks.
Check out the reality of what brain shrinkage tosses into your world through stressors in an ordinary workplace as well as personal problems. The disasters are compelling for those who ignore the brain research on this one – and few people question the urgent need to reboot their brains for less stress.
My question is … Can your stress shrink my brain?
When emails open with cortisol driven words such as …. tired … overwhelmed … panicky … lonely … frustrated … furious … worried … or confused - does shrinkage follow.
What about that note that includes ALL UPPER CASE LETTERS or !!!!!! or ????? which is the internet’s body language for panic and shouting? Yikes!
Open an email that hurls stressors the way Hercules hurls spears … and you feel stress stab you in the gut ... on its way to your brain. What's the difference?
Open an email or a conversation ... in contrast ... with a serotonin driven idea or even a thoughtful question that compels others to help … and the brain responds chemically and electrically as it rewires for solutions.
It makes you wonder though … can one person’s stress shrink another person’s brain? What do you think?
See related articles:
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/07/what_is_cortisol_and_why_shoul.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/07/what_is_serotonin_and_why_shou.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/05/bank_any_serotonin_today.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/05/the_magic_dose_of_serotonin.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/10/seritonin_builders_for_better.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/07/chemicals_to_refuel_when_work.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/08/tone_to_the_finish_line.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/08/stick_a_neuron_in_your_head_an.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/10/i_just_needed_to_vent.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/07/problems_that_spark_solutions.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/09/10_practices_that_boost_your_b.html
Scary good post Ellen. (Scary good? Good scary?)
The analogy I use when talking about this kind of thing is the "Wall of Death" from the carny world. The person riding the motorbike at high speed around the wall of death is completely hopped up on adrenaline, cortisol and endorphins - but they KNOW that slowing down will break the magic of the centrifuge and they will plunge to a fiery death. So they just keep going.
Your "reboot" idea is stunning. That's definitely going into my delivery on this topic - with big kisses and appropriate attribution.
This also makes me think about that piece of research out of UCLA where they postulated that the reason modern women live longer than men is because they have evolved the "tend & befriend" approach rather than being stuck with the neanderthal "fight or flight" as men seem to be ...
Posted by: Rowan Manahan | September 19, 2007 4:28 AM | Permalink to Comment