Books and Articles — Stress

Study: Stress Shrinks the Brain, by Alice Park. Time Magazine, January 09, 2012.  “Stress is an integral part of all of our lives, so much so, in fact, that we tend to shrug off our racing pulses and insomnia and constant angst as nothing unusual. But researchers say that even everyday stress can be leading to changes in the brain that make us more vulnerable to mental as well as social disorders ranging from depression to addiction and behavioral conditions.”

Stimulant Abuse Puts Students In Harm's Way, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, September 07, 2011.  “College students use stimulants to enhance their alertness, theoretically improving study sessions and improving academic performance. But the perceived benefits are questionable.”

Lab Research Shows Stress Damages DNA, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, August 22, 2011.  “Although most health professionals believe chronic stress can lead to a variety of medical conditions, definitive proof of the mechanism by which this occurs has been absent. New research from scientists at Duke University Medical Center explains the stress response in terms of DNA damage.”

Support Program Helps Caregivers of Mentally Ill Cope, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, June 28, 2011.  “Caring for a family member with mental illness can take its toll, but a widely available education and support program for relatives of the mentally ill called Family-to-Family (FTF) can significantly improve a family's coping ability.”

Stress as a Predictor of Adult Mood Disorders, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, November 04, 2010.  “Emerging research suggests daily stress may be more dangerous to our health than previously believed.”

Spill Takes Toll on Gulf Worker's Psyches, by Mireya Navarro. New York Times, June 16, 2010.  “Beyond the environmental and economic damage, the toll of the mammoth spill in the Gulf of Mexico is being measured in hopelessness, anxiety, stress, anger, depression and even suicidal thoughts among those most affected, social workers say.”

Therapy to Quiet Mind Eases Insomnia, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, January 29, 2010.  “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be a remedy for insomnia that is combined with anxiety, depression or chronic pain.”

More Than Academics at Morton Alternative, by Giovanna Brue. New York Times, January 23, 2010.  “A program combining intensive psychotherapy with conventional studies to help troubled teens finish school has reported promising results.”

In Anxious Times, Medical Help for the Mind as Well as the Body, by Lesley Alderman. New York Times, November 06, 2009.  “A new law requires that next year big group plans provide the same level of care for mental health as for medical ones.”

Massachusetts expands mental health parity, by Nan Shnitzler. New England Psychologist, October 15, 2009.

Back-to-School Transitions: Tips for Parents, by Ted Feinberg and Katherine C. Cowan. September 08, 2009.  “The transition from August to September can be difficult for both children and parents. Even children who are eager to return to class must adjust to the greater levels of activity, structure, and, for some, pressures associated with school life. ... Here are a few suggestions to help ease the transition and promote a successful school experience.”

Immigration Judges Found Under Strain, by Julia Preston. New York Times, July 10, 2009.  “The strain on immigration judges was similar to that on prison wardens and hospital physicians, a psychological study found.”

Staying Sane May Be Easier Than You Think, by John Cloud. Time Magazine, June 22, 2009.

Recession Anxiety Seeps Into Everyday Lives, by Pam Belluck. New York Times, April 08, 2009.  “Experts see signs that stress is becoming more common as a result of the economic downturn.”

Getting past the holiday stress, by Michael Jellinek, M.D. The Newton Tab, December 17, 2008.

Busy families, by Michael Jellinek, M.D. The Newton Tab, June 10, 2008.

When Worry Consumes You, by Kathleen Doheny. US News & World Report, February 24, 2008.

A Principal Who Cracks Down on Stress, by Sarah Rimer. The New York Times, October 29, 2007.  “Some administrators are pushing back against an ethos of super-achievement at affluent suburban high schools. [Featuring Needham, MA.] ”

Teen brains react differently to stress than adult ones, by Sena Desai Gopal. Boston Globe, March 12, 2007.  “A brain chemical that reduces anxiety in adults has the opposite effect on adolescents, a new study finds, perhaps explaining why many teenagers are so touchy.”