There is absolutely no doubt that stress is a major factor in the declining health of our country. From the standpoint of treating patients in my office, helping patients manage their own stress is one of the most difficult tasks I undertake. Sadly, only on rare occasions are patients successful.
I know that my own life is virtually stress free (despite its challenges) but I am unfortunately all to often unable to help guide patients to the same state of mind. Maybe if patients truly understood how devastating stress is the outcomes would be better.
This particular article points to previously unforeseen consequences. Basically, early on (preschool up until 3rd grade), children who were at high risk of dysphoric disorder had a slower than expected cortisol response to stress. At some point in the next few years, these same high risk kids OVER react to these same stressful situations.
There is something that happens very early on to our children that may predispose them to depression. Alterations in healthy stress responses begin as early as preschool. Research has even suggested that life in the womb can predispose children to altered stress responses.
Is YOUR stress affecting your children more than you think?