I have been fortunate to hang out over the last decade with Mary Dallman PhD, Emeritus stress research professor at the University of California San Francisco. What a great mentor! With over a century of outstanding stress research, there was much for me to learn and I consider myself fortunate to have met Mary. Although I certainly don’t speak fluent stress science, I have learned a lot and respect the amazing researchers devoted to the cause.

These pages use illustrations with a rat theme, representing Mary’s use of rats in her stress research. Rats share a number of similarities to humans, both physiologically and in their hormone expressions in response to stress. This makes it possible to develop both behavioral models for stress responses and potential solutions, using both behavioral and medication therapies. Hats off to rats and other creatures that helped with research along the way!

What is stress?

Stress is a nonconscious brain-body neuroendocrine response to sensory perceptions of threat or challenge in our internal or internal environment. Stress matters a lot and when left to run amok can cause all kinds of health problems!! The brain-body are one; there is no duality. Stress impacts molecules, cells and communication networks, and endocrine, nervous, circulatory, lymphatic, immune, muscular, digestive, reproductive, respiratory, urinary, integumentary and skeletal systems. When it comes to the impact of stress on our brain-body, it is all hands on deck. Stress response systems are designed to help us be successful and, in more extreme situations, to survive.

Around 2004, the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child created three stress categories. Although the categories of stress were originally focused on the impact of stress on child development, the categories apply to any age group. It is an easy way to think about stress levels.

Positive Stress

Positive Stress refers to short transient stress like going grocery shopping, cooking dinner for a large group, looking for where you put your keys or playing a game of bingo.

Positive stress response is a normal part of healthy development and represents the transient increases in heart rate and hormonal levels that occur when a child is first left with a new caregiver or is given a shot at the doctor’s office.

Tolerable Stress

Tolerable Stress situations are more intense, but can still be handled within your coping skills and support systems. Experiences include- driving in a heavy traffic, taking a big exam, interviewing for a job, loss of a loved one, moving, illness or financial problems.

Tolerable stress response refers to significant activation of the body’s “alert systems,” as might occur after the loss of a loved one or a natural disaster, in the presence of adult support. If the child is cared for by at least one responsive adult who provides a sense of security and protection, the stress response doesn’t last for an extended period of time, and the child’s brain and other organs can recover from potentially damaging effects.

Toxic Stress

Toxic Stress refers to an experience that overwhelms your ability to cope, with limited to no support. Frequently, danger is involved. Toxic stress is unrelenting and prolonged and occurs when there is no safety in the home due to violence, alcohol and other drug addiction, sexual abuse, exposure to poverty, homelessness and in extreme cases war. Toxic stress leads to feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Toxic stress response is the unrelenting activation of stress response systems in the absence of adequate support or protection from adults. It can be precipitated by serious adversity, such as extreme poverty, frequent neglect, physical or emotional abuse, or maternal substance abuse and can lead to stress-related diseases or deficits in learning and behavior across the lifespan.

Stress Regulation Training – Finding the Gap of Calm

Stress is an unavoidable part of life and, up to a point, a healthy adaption and path to maximizing your potential. However, as stress levels rise to unhealthy degrees, there are a number of ways to regulate your level of stress and keep your brain-body equilibrium in balance. I refer to this as Finding the Gap of Calm, and discuss it in more detail here.