The Biology of Stress

In one of the white privilege discussion groups last semester, I learned from Dean Jablonski that there is a connection between prolonged or chronic stress and changes that occur in our cells. I have been fascinated by this concept and doing some reading. It makes perfect sense. Chronic stress actually alters our brains at the cellular level. Stress, and the anxiety, depression, anger and other emotions that travel with us in times of stress, affect us and our descendants far longer than I ever expected.

Stress changes the ratio of grey matter (the higher functioning and thinking part of our brain) and white matter (the connectivity and communication part of the brain). In other words, the brain becomes less predisposed to learning and memory, and more sensitive to anxiety and depression. The brain becomes less likely to contemplate and more wired for “fight or flight” basic responses. Not being a brain scientist, I will stop there before I get corrective emails or show more of my ignorance.

As I listen to the conversations on poverty that we are having in Lynchburg and hear about the overwhelming burden of generational poverty, I can’t help think about the biological effect of generational poverty. Twenty percent of Lynchburg lives below the poverty line, and that excludes the college students who increase that figure. Thirty-seven percent of our Lynchburg workforce lives in poverty. One in five children live in poverty –which means 20 % of our city’s children are having their biology affected by the chronic stress of living without food and housing security. When I ponder how alcoholism and abuse run in families, I wonder about the generational biological changes that occur in high stress environments.

I know many of you experience significant stress just in daily life. The car needs to be repaired. Homework needs to be supervised and dinner made. A family member is ill. A large medical bill needs to be paid. There has been a death in the family, or a divorce, or a loss of a job. And if it isn’t the “little” stresses of daily life, our country is in the midst of so much change. There is change, calls for more change, and rallying for different types of change. The divides between us politically are as wide as ever, and at the same time we try to be more welcoming of diversity. Many feel like their basic rights are at stake and that their own families are threatened.

In my biology reading I have also been reminded that the two practices that overcome stress are exercise and mindfulness. In other words, Body and Soul balance the Mind. This seems to be the challenge of modern living. I don’t have all of the secrets, and I am certainly not the posterchild for success at balance, but I needed to be reminded.

Prayers for a good semester and less stress in your living.

Blessings, Stephanie