Chronic stress damages brain. Relaxation heals it.

September 1st, 2009 — tonymayo  Email This Article Email This Article

…chronically stressed rats lost their elastic rat cunning and instead fell back on familiar routines and rote responses, like compulsively pressing a bar for food pellets they had no intention of eating. … regions of the brain associated with executive decision-making and goal-directed behaviors had shriveled, while, conversely, brain sectors linked to habit formation had bloomed.

Nuno SousaBehaviors become habitual faster in stressed animals than in the controls, and worse, the stressed animals can’t shift back to goal-directed behaviors when that would be the better approach.

I call this a vicious circle.

–Nuno Sousa, MD PhD
Life and Health Sciences
Research Institute

But with only four weeks’ vacation in a supportive setting free of bullies and Tasers, the formerly stressed rats looked just like the controls, able to innovate, discriminate and lay off the bar. Atrophied synaptic connections in the decisive regions of the prefrontal cortex resprouted, while the overgrown dendritic vines of the habit-prone sensorimotor striatum retreated.

–Brain Is a Co-Conspirator
in a Vicious Stress Loop
NYTimes.com

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Responding to Stress

March 25th, 2009 — tonymayo  Email This Article Email This Article

Hans Selye

One word has suddenly appeared in nearly every conversation with my executive coaching clients: stress. Everyone is aware of increased stress. For many, stress is the dominant experience. Let’s examine the mechanism, symptoms, and treatments.

Stress is a word imported from engineering, where it refers to pressure sufficient to cause a body to deform. High stress can permanently alter the form and function of the material bearing the load, even to the point of destruction. No wonder that endocrinologist Hans Selye chose stress to describe the reactions of lab rats to his injections of what would later be labeled stress hormones: cortisol, adrenaline, etc. You and I do not need an injection to experience the symptoms of stress; we make plenty of these hormones ourselves.

Some immediate symptoms of excessive emotional stress are:

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Helping Employees Change and Adapt

March 19th, 2009 — tonymayo  Email This Article Email This Article

Charles Lindbergh

Many companies and organizations are dealing with multiple changes right now to adapt to the huge shifts in our economy: layoffs, salary reductions and freezes, office closings, budget cuts, etc. My CEO executive coaching clients are making painful decisions, managing personal stress, communicating more often with employees, customers, and suppliers. All of that is useful and important.

I also find it useful to remind managers that change is not quick or easy for companies.

Leaders, especially the most dynamic, creative, and  entrepreneurial, must keep in mind that stability is in the nature of organizations. That’s why we call them organizations, rather than alterizations or adaptizations. People, especially in groups, need Read the rest of this entry »

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A Maestro of Centering

March 16th, 2009 — tonymayo  Email This Article Email This Article

Lorin MaazelI make simple techniques for achieving calm and centering a foundation practice in my executive coaching. You can download my podcast instructions here, Find Your Center Before You Act.

I recently heard conductor Lorin Maazel tell NPR’s Terry Gross how important centering is to his ability to perform effectively and avoid injury, even at his “advanced age.” You can hear his two minutes of instruction by clicking here. The evident skepticism in Ms. Gross’s voice tells me that she had not yet adopted deep breathing and conscious muscle relaxation as a regular practice. I hope the maestro’s endorsement moved her to try centering.  The complete episode of NPR’s Fresh Air is available here.



Click here to learn how to center.



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© 2009 Tony Mayo

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Do more with less…stress

February 26th, 2009 — tonymayo  Email This Article Email This Article

Benjamin Franklin

I was listening to a clever and timely story on NPR this morning about the renewed prevalence of the hackneyed imperative, “Do more with less.” This is widely interpreted as a demand for longer hours to compensate for reduced budget and staff. My executive coaching clients, in contrast, report growth in income and profits while working fewer days and shorter, more flexible hours. Two keys are reducing stress and misdirected energy.

I was very pleased when the NPR reporter revealed the original form of the phrase from Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, “by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. … as we read in Poor Richard, who adds, drive thy business, let not that drive thee.”

Great advice, then as now.

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Manage Pressure

February 24th, 2009 — mayogenuine  Email This Article Email This Article

david_arnold.png

I had the opportunity to work along-side Tony in an environment which required creativity and an ability to effectively manage pressure. He not only does that well, but is very professional and loyal as he helps others sort through business and personal options.

David Arnold
CEO, Navigator Properties

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Tony Mayo, Top Executive Coach, is located in Reston, Virginia 20190