We all handle stress differently.
What you may find surprising, however, are the reasons why we get stressed. The answer seems pretty straightforward: when we face more than we can handle, whether in a moment or over an extended period of time, and we don’t know how to respond, our breathing hastens, our heart pounds in our chest, chemicals pulse through our body and, trembling, we look for a way out of our predicament.
The truth is, it’s not that simple. Twice as many women are likely to suffer from stress-related psychiatric disorders than men. It’s an important statistic, and one that cannot be justified on a contextual or physiological basis. Instead, experts are pointing the finger at biology, and how the male and female brains operate differently when faced with stress.
Recent studies have shown that even the most basic influencing of cellular processes can have a dramatic impact on nucleus accumbens, the pleasure centre of the brain. Regular disruption of this region inhibits the subject’s ability to experience pleasure, fostering stress-related disorders as a result. In male lab mice, it took 21 days to disrupt the nucleus accumbens and trigger symptoms of stress. In females, it took six.
The nucleus accumbens then started producing a gene called DNA methyltransferase 3a (Dnmt3a) that suppresses the production of proteins designed to combat stress. This combines with the impact of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a hormone that makes females more alert. CRF is of great benefit on the average day – in humans, it keeps us focused, engaged, and aware. When we’re stressed, however, it puts us on edge. When male mice came under pressure, CRF was essentially disabled. In females, it compounded, especially when ovarian hormones were at peak levels.
The differences are severe, and though the science may seem complex, the statistics that result from it are painfully simple:
- 20.2% of women suffer from major depression compared to 13.2% of men.
- 12.9% suffer from insomnia, more than double the amount of men.
- They also face nearly triple the amount of cases of PTSD, at 9.7%.
Even if the stress does not manifest as a diagnosable condition, women are still impacted the hardest.
Of course, cultural issues are sure to play some part in these results. 1 in 5 women seek help when struggling with a mental condition. Only 1 in 10 men do the same, and those that do are less likely to be diagnosed, according to the World Health Organisation. Perhaps that’s why men are, on average, three times more likely to commit suicide in nations all around the world.
Such stigmas are at play on both sides of the equation though, and this is why scientists are only now looking at biology as an influencing factor in how we deal with stress.
Traditionally, researchers have only used male rodents for experiments, believing ovarian hormones complicate their findings. This inter-species sexism has now been proven woefully unfounded, and has undoubtedly resulted in a lack of understanding, support, and medication specifically for women facing mental health issues.
With the change comes new hope, but even after sex-specific structures are in place, the most important element of mental health treatment lies in discussion. It’s only when sufferers aren’t afraid or embarrassed to confront their condition that these medical advances can truly make a difference.
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This article was inspired by Stressed, a feature article in Scientific American Mind‘s November/December 2016 edition, written by Debra A. Bangasser.