New Research About Handling Stress

Two recent articles discussing studies of animals in stressful situations shed light on some valuable lessons about the role of stress in people’s lives.

In today’s New York Times Magazine, Gretchen Reynolds writes about an experiment in which two groups of rats ended up reacting differently to the same unpleasant situation. One group of rats exercised regularly for several weeks; the other group didn’t exercise at all. When both types of rats were exposed to stress -- specifically, forced to swim in cold water -- the brains of the exercising rats weren’t affected as negatively as those of the active rats. A related study indicated that, after an injection with chemicals designed to increase their stress level, active rats were less anxious than the idle ones. The studies support the idea that the physical stress of exercise helps the brain better handle emotional stress. But the payoff isn’t immediate. For rats, when it comes to seeing the benefits of exercise, the magic number is apparently between three and six weeks.

Meanwhile, in The Atlantic, David Dobbs writes about the insights of Stephen Suomi, a prominent researcher who has studied the emotional development of rhesus monkeys. Suomi has shown that when monkeys who are genetically handicapped in their ability to process a chemical in their brain known as serotonin -- a risk factor for anxiety and depression -- are raised as babies in poor environments, they grow up to process serotonin less efficiently as adults and are more likely to end up anxious and depressed. But when these genetically-handicapped monkeys are raised in ideal environments, they don’t just grow up to process serotonin efficiently; they do it more efficiently than those monkeys without the initial deficit. Monkeys who thrive despite this genetic weakness may in fact be more likely to prosper than your average monkey.

What does this mean for humans? Suomi’s research with monkeys is relevant to the study of what are sometimes known as “orchid children” -- children who possess gene variants that increase their susceptibility to problems such as depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Given a stressful or abusive childhood, these kids are more likely to suffer negative consequences (versus “dandelion kids” who can pretty much thrive anywhere). But the article suggests that if these orchid children are raised in a more favorable environment, then these genetic variants can contribute to enhanced functioning. In short, what has usually been seen only as a liability can, under the right circumstances, be a strength.

As for the stressed-out rat experiments, it adds to a growing body of research indicating that exercise helps not only our physical health, but our mental health as well. As is the case with the rats in these studies, these stress-reducing benefits aren’t immediate. But there’s one important difference between people and the lab rats: Unlike the rats, no scientists are forcing us to exercise. People, unlike rats, need their own motivation. To reap enrichment from an exercise routine, they have to overcome inertia and push themselves to do something they might find unpleasant initially. But if they can stay the course until they start enjoying the returns, it’s worth it.

Positive Psychology Has Its Limits

Last week, I read the book Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America, by Barbara Ehrenreich. What got me interested was hearing a radio interview in which the author, who was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago, talked about her reaction to the breast cancer culture she encountered during her treatment. Cancer was a gift, people would say. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

Ehrenreich wasn’t soothed by the cheeriness that people had in reaction to their cancer, and that they expected from her. Rather, this relentless focus on maintaining a positive attitude felt stifling to her. And when she expressed anger about her diagnosis, about the effects of chemotherapy, and about the frustrations of dealing with her insurance company, people responded by suggesting that she was too angry. Run, don’t walk, someone told her, to some counseling.

Ehrenreich points out that certain assertions that are often accepted as truth -- such that a positive attitude lessens your chances of getting cancer and improves your chances of surviving it -- are actually simplifications of the relevant research. While stress can weaken your immune system, that doesn’t mean that if you’re stressed, you’re more likely to get cancer. Similarly, while therapy and support groups may be good for people's emotional health, therapy, or support groups won't extend their lives. The problem, Ehrenreich points out, is that sometimes this research trickles down in such a way that people end up blaming themselves unnecessarily for their illness or for their inability to prevent its spread.

Another part of the book addresses the spread of positive psychology, a relatively new area of psychology that focuses on the study of positive emotions, happiness, and resilience. In her view, this research, along with some other New Age ideas, is being misused to foster the belief that what happens to us is our fault. For example, rather than focus on systemic issues (such as income inequality or a crumbling economy) as reasons why you lost your job, these disciplines focus on attributing what happens to you on internal, individual characteristics, and essentially blame the victim for what happens to him or her.

It’s an interesting argument that relates to the tension in people's lives between denial of reality on the one hand and debilitating, excessive pessimism on the other. If you have breast cancer, being told that your anger and sadness about the cancer is going to make it worse would most likely fill you with both rage and guilt. At the same time, if all you can think about is what is out of your control, it will be difficult to work to change anything about your situation. Sometimes, it’s important not to minimize the bad, or sad things that happen to us, or that we feel. You can recognize them and acknowledge them in a way that enables you to move forward.