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Chronic Stress Could Lead To Depression and Dementia, Scientists Warn (independent.co.uk)
schwit1 writes: A major review of published research suggests that chronic stress and anxiety can damage areas of the brain involved in emotional responses, thinking and memory, leading to depression and even Alzheimer's disease. Dr Linda Mah, the lead author of the review carried out at a research institute affiliated to the University of Toronto, said: 'Pathological anxiety and chronic stress are associated with structural degeneration and impaired functioning of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, which may account for the increased risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and dementia.'
Of course stress is a killer. Although I do not know if there is a real correlation between them, I have seen women developing breast cancer after long periods of stress so who knows what else it could be bad for. Stress seems like a general malfunction that screws up everything.
Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
Well, if it was pathological already,
how do they separate the effects of only stress,
from effects of chemical treatments?
This is where - I imagine these test subjects
of theirs would already have quite a wide
background in terms of other factors, or,
maybe we should trust their scientific integrity
and competence that the experiment is already
well-designed to control for drugs and really
only look to the patients with uncontrolled
regular panic attacks.
That is to say: why are they so fried already?
What is stress? Seriously. I mean physiologically.
Well, there's yet another thing to worry about.
Stress is known to cause systemic problems, ranging from weight gain, endocrine disruption, hair loss, and now neurodegernative conditions.
However, the actual costs of these ill health effects is not factored into the cost benefit analyses of major employers in nearly all conditions, as something other than just a potential source of losing valuable worker resources.
Seems to me that since the US has an endemic problem with stress and mental illness, at the same time also lacking good mental health infrastructure, that those causing the endemic problem (major employers who saddle on way more hours of work per employee than is sane or reasonable) should be made to pay this real cost, by being found culpable for causation of the very real health effects that thier high stress work environments induce, by means of having to pay for adult care in appropriate facilities for dementia patients, and for the costs of antipsychotics, psychoactive drugs, and mental health therapy for those they have harmed and are actively harming.
By introducing this new liability, the profit motive of forcing people into those situations will evaporate, and better working conditions should come forward naturally.
Of course, the reality is that these employers will seek radical outsourcing first, but if they all try that all at once, congress would have no choice but to intervene and introduce new labor and subcontracting laws.
Other than forcing employers to bear the weight of their own shit, (and thus reducing profits), I dont see the downside.
You can pry my stress from my cold, dead hands.
See subject: "Salt & Peppered" here because of it as a programmer-analyst/software-engineer & before it could ruin me I backed off "semi-retiring" early as far as working for others (had to, wasn't born rich etc.) deciding to start a business of my own (which has its stresses but it's not nearly as bad/constant as designing w/ analysis + coding & testing - plus, I get ALL the gravy minus overheads instead of "peanuts percentages" as compared to the entire cake that was possible by making others rich on my sweat... it's better this way).
* Now, my money works for ME, not the other way around as it was for me from 16-45... I'd recommend it to ANYONE in fact but it's not possible for everyone (again, wasn't for me until I had enough put away to do what I now that made it all possible)... it's not all "daisies & balloons", and you're NEVER "truly free" and do still have to account to others (just less of them), but your chains are a LOT less on you.
I tried contracting after full-time work for others (& still do in easier things than programming, more network-engineer/admin stuff now which is CAKE by comparison since you're working w/ things that DO work & have a roadmap way to get it done, just tedium & time consuming but NOT the stress of creation... working with already proven working things IS by far, easier than creating them from scratch - compounding it with a numbskull no-mind boss who has NO PLACE calling his subordinates, SUBORDINATES, when he can't do the job himself having had walked a mile in their shoes first (to be wise it's necessary and to be a GOOD leader that makes those sound decisions too), & who is of NO HELP since he's never done the job himself makes it worse (was lots of that in the CS/IT field in the 90's to early 21st, less now though))
APK
P.S.=> Stress kills - slowly: Come right down to it, imo @ least? It's not worth it looking back in hindsight, but it always looks that way looking back once the "ends have justified the means" for anyone/everyone who goes thru it and most us of do, & as I said, have to!
HOWEVER:
It's better than being part of the "Brotherhood of the Bell" ala the Glenn Ford film (living a lie that fronts you everything up front first asking for HORRIBLE prices later you have to live with & LIVE DOWN in your head and the eyes of others that know) ala the Glenn Ford film about fraternal secret handshaking type OR religious organizations of MANY kinds which I'd had offered to me 3 times in the former (can't figure out why either) circa 1994-2008 & I am GLAD I declined (see that Glenn Ford film to see what I meant here by analogy - I couldn't live w/ myself IF I took that route, & GLAD I didn't - it's for weasels, cheats, & sneaks who have NO consciences who "want it all fast" in a world of immediate gratifications, when the truth is you can 'grind it oout' & get it yourself w/ work & time (nothing truly good, comes easy))... apk
This maybe lends some weight to the idea that SSRI antidepressants don't have the effects they do simply because they increase the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters at the synapse. They also seem to increase the levels of BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) in the hippocampus, encouraging the growth of new cells there & improving overall neuronal plasticity.
In case you want to read the real article: here it is
soylentnews.org
The stress and depression on display in "Getting the Brush", for example, is hilarious.
Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
Stress is also why people will vote for people like Trump or Sanders. They're tired of being used up by the elite only to be expended like a used husk and replaced with fresh young replacements. Does the world really need 6 billon people on the planet when the "owner class" use automation and robotic to replace people" These political and owner class elite should be so damn lucky civil war hasn't started yet and they be overthrown in a French Revolution style result.
Life is not for the lazy.
Seems to me that since the US has an endemic problem with stress and mental illness, at the same time also lacking good mental health infrastructure, that those causing the endemic problem (major employers who saddle on way more hours of work per employee than is sane or reasonable) should be made to pay this real cost, by being found culpable for causation of the very real health effects that thier high stress work environments induce, by means of having to pay for adult care in appropriate facilities for dementia patients, and for the costs of antipsychotics, psychoactive drugs, and mental health therapy for those they have harmed and are actively harming.
Is this enforceable? Firstly, correlation is not evidence of causation of damage. Secondly, nobody is forcing the employees to work in such condition. The stressed out employees are always free to use the door and switch employer. The mere prospect of unemployment is not a duress condition.
I seriously doubt how this could pass the scrutiny of a court. I hate to say it, but I don't think there is standing for demanding this kind of damage reparation.
More likely a Nat Turner style revolution...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Turner%27s_slave_rebellion :-(
Secondly, nobody is forcing the employees to work in such condition. The stressed out employees are always free to use the door and switch employer.
People always make that sound so easy. For entire categories of workers, the ones often under the highest stress because they are being eaten up by not one but two jobs to keep themselves afloat, are the ones least likely to have the kind of job mobility that would result in any tangible improvement.
Back in the 90's when I was a young buck and had every employer convinced of my high technical prowess, combined with an employment market that was seriously in the engineer's favor, I used to think that way too. And for me, I did have that kind of freedom. Several decades later, along with many changes to my life circumstance and the job market in which I inhabit, I have a much greater appreciation for limitations of how much control one has over their career. And that's if you're lucky enough work in a field where "career" is an appropriate term
Well if you were at escape velocity then gravity can't take over.
the actual costs of these ill health effects is not factored into the cost benefit analyses of major employers in nearly all conditions
That is because it isn't the employers cost. "If you don't like it, quit"
"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
Don't take this personal, because I believe you mean well. But I woke up this morning with a visceral reaction to BS this morning! In case you haven't noticed, Congress and the current POTUS are bought and paid for. Paul Ryan and the rest are full pro-outsourcing!!! It cuts right through party lines. As such, while I agree with you they should, they would never slit their own throat being the abject whores in office that they are!!
Life is not for the lazy.
One more thing to be depressed about...
p>Back in the 90's when I was a young buck and had every employer convinced of my high technical prowess, combined with an employment market that was seriously in the engineer's favor, I used to think that way too. And for me, I did have that kind of freedom. Several decades later, ....
Are you talking about the 1890's or something?
how can you tell if your boss stressed and suffering from dementia or just stupid? ;)
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
I have worked at previous employers that treated employees who showed "stress", as criminals. First, they would be asked if they had the mental capabilities to handle their job function as an adult (usually after a 70-80 hour week), then if they appeared stressed would be fired for "manager not having confidence in employee for basic functions." Combine this with the employer actively seeking info about employees in therapy and firing them ("better an ex-employee lawsuit where we can say they were 'disgruntled' than a bad apple that can sabotage us.")
If you don't like Earth, find your own planet. Yep, entirely an "option".
They kept preaching to us @ LeMoyne in the 1980's that "small business is the way of the future" & they weren't b.s.'ing during my 1st of 2 degrees in Business Administration + MIS concentration (pure CS work came later, a good 5++ yrs. later after being a loss-preventions mgt. right outta the gate on that degree for a large retail chain (had to do the loans somehow, right?)).
* Those "trite little sayings" & "pearls of wisdom" start making a LOT more sense as the years pass I guess...
(Once you start running into the things they applied to later that is, in the acquisition of "wisdom" (lol, more like punches to the head life gives you to 'knock the sawdust' out of your young/dumb/full of you-know what head...))
APK
P.S.=> The other one that REALLY "bugged me" came from old men @ barstools (stupid place to be but it came with chasing women @ times, until I 'wised-up' & learned the OLD dudes knew a hell of a lot more than I did, when I started 'happy' houring it to avoid drinking & driving in daylight hours, since it's more dangerous @ night when the sharks come out so-to-speak): "Marriage is WORK!!!" & one day I cornered one, bought him and his old pal a drink asking "WTF does it REALLY men guys?" & they both said @ once "COMPROMISE/you can't always do what you want, when you do you hurt someone by acting irresponsibly" & other things like "sometimes women run things better than guys" (like money which they didn't agree on & starting arguing @ which point I left, lol)...
Glad I avoided it though - everyone I knew almost are divorced including my own family members galore - I figure I wouldn't do a better job since "apple doesn't fall too far from the tree" & I had no good example guidance there from them least of all, etc. - et al (all the divorcees friends I have also say "You were the smart one avoiding it - getting married costs, divorces cost more..." + I didn't like the bitter look in their eyes either - wasn't for me (I said "Hey, live for the kids now, they're what matter")) apk
Not surprising at all, especially the depression. A major component of stress is realizing or feeling like you don't have control over your life (due to your job, boss, spouse, financial situation etc.) so naturally that can lead to depression. What's the point of living without free will, feeling trapped? Gone on long enough, with cortisol eating at your innards, you'll gain weight too, which can just feed into more depression, as it lowers your health and self-esteem. Dementia seems a bit more complicated, but not I can't say I'm surprised, as paranoia and cynicism, an outcome of the depression, would be likely gateways.
Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
Who makes this stuff up?
Would you be willing to share with us what career path this is? It sounds like something IT related, but I can't imagine what IT path is leading down this dead end.
I have worked at previous employers that treated employees who showed "stress", as criminals. First, they would be asked if they had the mental capabilities to handle their job function as an adult (usually after a 70-80 hour week), then if they appeared stressed would be fired for "manager not having confidence in employee for basic functions." Combine this with the employer actively seeking info about employees in therapy and firing them ("better an ex-employee lawsuit where we can say they were 'disgruntled' than a bad apple that can sabotage us.")
HIPPA laws state that the employee's medical situation is in no way the business of the employer.. It is even illegal for them to ask about it.
this does not mean employers follow the law or try to weasel around it. They face serious problems if they get caught. If they try to, you should file a complaint and document everything! Sounds like you missed an opportunity to sue and collect!.
Another example: A friend of mine is pursuing a PhD. His advisor is one of the world's leading experts in his field. And that sounds nice until you realize that "leading expert" translates to "absolute workaholic who works at least twelve hours a day seven days a week and expects the same from his postgrads". For the last eight years my friend has been run ragged with fun things like ninety-hour work weeks (mostly unpaid, of course) doing completely unrelated stuff for the work group during which he was naturally expected to still work on his thesis in his spare time. And of course this unrelated work had to be flawless, after all if the work group's new paper can't make it into Nature why even bother having a work group in the first place?
These days he's actually finding the time to write - not because the workload has lightened but because the university has started asking the supervisor pointed questions about why certain people are taking so long writing their thesis. But he's having huge problems actually working on his thesis because over the years he started slipping into depression and what's increasingly looking like burnout syndrome... what a surprise.
Of course he always had the option of walking away and finding a different university to write his thesis at. Except that it would've seriously pissed off his supervisor who happens to know pretty much every other potential supervisor in the country. Even if his supervisor isn't vindictive, the mere chance that he might be is enough to make leaving an unfeasibly dangerous option.
Makes me happy I got my master's-equivalent degree and left for a programming job. Postgrads run on fumes and a constant fear of their supervisor. I rather prefer the comparative tranquility of mere office politics.
USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
The stress from constant threat of nuclear war would have had people dropping like flies or going bonkers by the millions according to this research.
Wait a minute... how is Trump or Sanders not the 1%?
We hate the 1% so let's vote for the 1%?
My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
and for the costs of antipsychotics, psychoactive drugs, and mental health therapy for those they have harmed and are actively harming.
Most of the types of drugs you mention are worse than doing nothing. There are some good therapists out there, but they are uncommon.
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
www.teslabox.com
So he'll get a PhD and be burned out before he begins his career. Sweet.
Don't forget Obama and his love of TPP and TISA.
Uh-huh. Once he gets that degree the first thing we'll do is to talk him into taking a sabbatical. Well, it won't take much talking. Even if it means we'll have to take turns providing couches for him to crash on, he really needs some stress-free time. Hopefully that'll help him avoid the worst of it.
If it doesn't he's still fluent in C and there's a lot of unfilled tech jobs around these parts. Not what he dedicated years to getting a degree in but defeinitely much preferable to unemployment.
USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)