1.️ Stress shuts down the prefrontal cortex
This is important, so please read it again: stress shuts down the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is our ‘rational brain’. It enables us to regulate our thoughts, actions and emotions. Under stress, the fight or flight response, our limbic system, a more primitive part of the brain, takes over. As long as the limbic system is in charge, we will act reactively, habitually and instinctively. This means that stress impairs complex, flexible thinking, learning and the processing of new information, while the ability to perform simpler and more habitual tasks improves. We switch to autopilot. This can save our lives when fast and automatic responding is needed but is really not what we need when thoughtful solutions are needed.
2. After 20 to 30 minutes, stress has a negative impact on your brain cells
The physiological stress response starts with a wave of adrenaline. This shuts down the prefrontal cortex and prepares the body for action. After 20 to 30 minutes, cortisol is released. High cortisol levels damage the hippocampus, causing cortisol levels to remain high, further damaging the hippocampus: a vicious cycle. The hippocampus plays a vital role in regulating learning, memory encoding, memory consolidation and spatial navigation.
3. At work, chronic stress is omnipresent
Stress is an alarm designed to keep us safe. This alarm goes off when we feel afraid or anxious. It is our interpretation of what is happening that sets off the alarm, not the actual event as such. At work, these triggers may not be what you think they are, and they often are of a chronic nature: not feeling included, negative relationships with co-workers, unpredictability, insecurity, worrying, lack of autonomy, comparing yourself to others, performance anxiety, etc. When we suffer stress because of these triggers, the stress is chronic as the alarm rings constantly.
4. Feeling in control can turn crippling stress into an opportunity for growth
One of the most important differences between a typical stressful depleting event at work and an opportunity for growth and learning is having a sense of control. This means that re-establishing contact with the prefrontal cortex, fact-checking the stress trigger and establishing a sense of control, can turn a negative and stressful event into a positive and empowering one.
Let’s get started
So, once you understand how stress is triggered, you will see how you can learn how to recognise and neutralise stress triggers and how important that is. Situations at work do as such not trigger our stress response. Our thoughts and emotions, triggered by the event, do. Recognising and then neutralising these triggers is the key to stopping the physiological stress response and reclaiming control. In addition, and at least as important, creating a safe and positive culture where what causes stress is monitored and discussed is a game changer. Stress levels in high-trust teams are significantly lower than in the average working environment. Working with people that we trust and can we vulnerable with means safety and thus an antidote to stress.