Read the full story here
What midlife stress does to your brain and how to stop it from getting worse
I was used to a busy life—raising a family with four kids ages 7 to 18, writing a book, editing a weekly magazine, and co-hosting a podcast—so I wondered where this sense of immense panic was coming from.
I’m an organized, multitasking adult, but when one thing goes wrong, it makes me illogically pessimistic and think that the rest of my to-do list will fall flat too.
If this story sounds familiar, you must be well into middle age. There seems to be a new group of people in town: people in their 40s and older who are inexplicably overwhelmed. What’s going on? And is there a way to stop us from spiraling into a vicious cycle when that feeling of overwhelm hits us?
Read the full story here
5 ways to cope with burnout without quitting your job
Managing stress requires some effort and time devoted to your nervous system and health. There is a common belief, especially in Aotearoa, that people should be able to handle it all. But the truth is, we are likely experiencing the most demands and sensory stimulation per day with the least support we’ve ever had. It’s like asking a 60G hard drive to download 180G every day. The hard drive wears out.
Stress is a modern affliction, but there are some great ways to reduce it.
Read the full story here
Can stress cause ulcers?
It’s long been believed, and doctors have argued, that stress causes stomach ulcers, but experts say the relationship between the two is not simple.
It’s true that some seriously ill patients, such as those admitted to intensive care units, develop stress ulcers, which are sores that form in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract soon after extreme physical stress, but there’s “no data whatsoever” that supports the idea that everyday mental stress can directly cause ulcers, says Tonya Adams, MD, a gastroenterologist at Gastro Health in Fairfax, Virginia.
But for people who are at high risk for developing ulcers for other reasons, like taking too many of these medications or being infected with certain bacteria, stress could push them over the edge, said Neha Mathur, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Read the full story here
I learned how to control stress by thinking like a man.
If being too nice has led to a stressful life where you’re constantly trying to impress others, it’s time to add tunnel vision to your worldview.
“They were so generous, I need to send them a card,” I told my boyfriend, Mike, after dinner with friends. He looked at me angrily. “Sure, if you want to, but I’ve never sent a thank-you card in my life.”
Mike has omitted a great deal from his life: sending birthday cards, sponsoring friends’ charity runs, buying tickets to their plays. He’s a great, involved father to his kids, and a long-time union representative at work, but he cares little for social courtesy. In his heart, he knows he’s right: obligation and generosity are very different things. But how can he get away with it?
Read the full story here
5 exercises to beat burnout and stress
Despite what we’ve been led to believe, running around in the street may not actually be the best way to improve your mood. Researchers at Ohio State University compared “arousal-increasing” activities, like hitting a bag, jogging, cycling, and swimming, with “arousal-decreasing” activities, like deep breathing, mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. The latter were most effective at calming anger, while jogging (which increases arousal) was the activity most likely to increase it.
Read the full story here
Why Overcoming Stress is the Key to Losing Belly Fat
severe diet Still feeling overweight? Instead of restricting calories, get your cortisol under control.
After the age of 30, gaining belly fat may seem inevitable. We jokingly refer to it as “mommy belly,” “beer belly,” or “love handles.” But excess fat is no laughing matter. According to the World Health Organization, a waist circumference of 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women is associated with “an increased risk of metabolic complications.” To put it more bluntly, it increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
And now there’s a fun new term joining the fray: “cortisol belly,” which at least has a basis in science (it’s not just binging). Do you have a cortisol belly? And what can you do about it? We asked the experts.
Read the full story here
6 steps to recovering from burnout
You feel tired and negative all the time. Overwhelmed by workAsk the experts what they can do
Burnout is a buzzword that’s often thrown around when you feel a bit drained at work or overwhelmed by life. In fact, burnout is a syndrome with clear symptoms, recognized by the World Health Organization in 2019, that include feelings of exhaustion and cynicism about work. Burnout not only impacts workers’ lives, but also the economy.
Nor is this a modern phenomenon. Graham Greene’s 1961 novel Burnt out cases It’s a song about an architect who’s worn out by his job. In 1974, Bob Dylan sang about being “worn out.”
That same year, Christina Maslach, a psychology professor at the University of California, San Francisco, began studying the phenomenon. “Someone once told me, ‘Lawyers call it burnout,’ and that phrase described the feelings people were expressing to me.”
If you’re feeling exhausted, negative, and your work performance is declining, you may be experiencing burnout — but how can you get back on track?
Read the full story here
19 Simple Things You Can Do to Reduce Stress
What really lowers stress levels? Experts reveal their top tips, from journaling to taking probiotics.
Stress is a normal part of life, but it can get out of hand because of worries about work, relationships, money, etc. But there are habits you can incorporate into your daily life to combat stress, and habits you can practice when you’re not stressed that will make you stronger when you’re under pressure.
As a neuroscientist, I’ve reviewed the evidence over the past few years and have incorporated about a dozen daily activities into my routine to help me cope with stress, along with bonus practices I reserve for especially stressful times.
Starting these habits today will benefit you, even if you’ve never done them before. They will help lower your stress levels, but they’re not prescribed and you don’t have to do them every day to see improvements.
Read the full story here
