Brain's Resilience May Prevent Burnout

(CBS)  At her office, corporate attorney Teresa Pahl deals with phone calls and e-mails, deadlines and meetings, CBS News correspondent John Blackstone reports.

"There's always so much going on here," Pahl says.

At home, as a mother of four, Pahl deals with family meals and children's schedules. She cleans up the kitchen, drops off the kids, juggles some office e-mails — and don't forget, the dog needs a walk.

"When you know you've got a long list, you just power through," Pahl says.

Our brains are designed to help us "power through." Under stress, the brain signals to release hormones including adrenaline and cortisol. They give us energy, strengthen the immune system, improve reflexes and even help our memory.

But if we are always under stress, the release of cortisol begins to work against us.

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"Chronic stress affects your head, your heart, your liver, your immune system," says Bruce McEwen, a scientist at Rockefeller University in New York.

McEwen has discovered that chronic stress causes neurons in the brain to shrink and change shape. In animals, that causes a loss of memory, increased anxiety and aggressiveness that can lead to signs of depression.

Other research, undertaken by psychologist Elissa Epel, has shown how chronic stress can speed up aging and make us more prone to disease.

"Stress has been shown to affect virtually every physiological system we have," Epel says. "Stress even affects cells at the molecular level."

Eppel's research has shown that telomeres, the protective coating at the end of chromosomes, get frayed and worn by stress, mimicking the effects of aging.

In a world that's now filled with cell phones and BlackBerrys, instant messaging and expectations of 24/7, our brains can get a stress signal every time an e-mail comes in. Technology is creating new sources of chronic stress.

"I actually had one of my partners walk into my office, I looked at him and just said, "What? What? What? What now?," Pahl says.

Even those who manage stress well can sometimes be overwhelmed. Those who don't manage stress, psychologist Christina Maslach discovered, can reach a breaking point: burnout.

"When people are experienceing burnout they are more likely to make mistakes make errors," she says. "They don't work as well."

But scientists say the brain's resilience can help prevent burnout.

"The important thing to remember though is when we stop the stress, the neurons will grow back to normal size," McEwen says.

The key is to give the brain time without stress: relaxing with family, exercising, eating well — and sometimes, just sometimes, ignoring those e-mails.

[suezq42]

I have nothing against smokers. Well except when they disrespect other people by smoking within 10 feet of them. I have asthma. My sister has asthma. MY sister spent 3 days in the hospital with ashtma & had to be on continious breathing treatments cause of smoke. Now that is stress! People cant drink anytime they want to, or everywhere. People can not have *** anytime they want or anywhere. there are lots of things people have to restrain themselves from. Why do SOME smokers think they should be able to harm others health & that its ok cause that is what they want to do where they want to do it & when they want to do it? Stress is not the restrictions on smoking. Stress is the expense & pain of the illness caused by second hand smoke on innocent victims.

[ginner45]

The stress of being a fire marshal was so great I was hospitalized for it. Fortunately I had 32 years of fire service and was able to retire. Stress can kill, now almost all my medical and emotonial problems has vanished and I am working to reuse all my brain that I feel I loss while I was so stressed out.

[october1929]

The stress at my job ultimately caused severe depression. Depression aggravated the stress. The stress aggravated the depression. It was an endless merry-go-round.

Gratefully, I was finally rescued from chronic depression thanks to a new FDA approved procedure for depression called vagus nerve stimulation therapy-a ninety minute out-patient procedure. It completely changed my life. It could change your life. To learn more information visit www.VagusNerveStimulation.com

[barbara222-2009]

My greatest stress is the media's constant reminders that relaxing with a cigarette, is detremental, not only to one's health but to everyone's within 10 feet of them.