The constant release of stress hormones can cause many medical problems, including a decrease in muscle mass and immune function, and an increased risk for cardiac events, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, digestive and skin problems, depression, and diabetes.
Stress Queen
How we handle stress seems to depend at least partly on gender. Experts say that even though women produce more cortisol in stressful situations than men, we’re better at handling them.
During a difficult event, women secrete high levels of oxytocin, the “feel-good” chemical in the brain that encourages relaxation. “Oxytocin counteracts cortisol in stressful situations,” says Rivers. “It signals the need for social support.” Men release the same hormone in much smaller amounts, which may explain why the sexes respond to stress so differently.
A 2000 UCLA study published in Psychological Review suggests that women adopt a “tend-and-befriend” reaction to stress rather than the “fight-or-flight” strategy that’s long been described as the human stress response. The classic “fight-or-flight” response is often an aggressive one (yelling, for example), or withdrawing entirely (retreating to another room to be alone).
But the UCLA study found that most of the time women respond by seeking social contact and support from others—especially other women (the “befriend” response)—and by protecting and nurturing their children (the “tend” response). Thacker says this makes sense because women are better at verbalizing, socializing, and forming cooperative alliances—all of which are ways to reduce stress.
Stress Be Gone
It’s crucial to reduce stress to maintain optimal health. And it’s easier than you might think to ease tensions, without quitting your job or ditching your family.
No matter how afraid we are to tackle seemingly impossible tasks, experts say facing fears head-on is one of the best ways to control stressful ups and downs. Not only does it give us a sense of power and control, it helps boost our self-esteem, which lessens stress.
“If you think of something as a challenge rather than a threat, you can actually get rid of the fear and the body’s physiological response to it, automatically triggering a healthier response,” says Rivers. “Having a positive outlook helps you perform better in the moment and recover faster from the stressor.”
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