Toxic Work Environments Shrink Your Brain

I worked with a CEO who would persistently call me after 11pm to pressure me to produce more. 

I was burning out. What I did not know is that my brain was likely shrinking, one aspect of the body’s physiological reactions to stress.

This is documented in a 2018 study published in the journal, Neurology which shows that the brain shrinks due to a rise in the primarily protective stress hormone, cortisol. The conclusion from the article abstract from Neurology states, “Higher serum cortisol was associated with lower brain volumes and impaired memory in asymptomatic younger to middle-aged adults, with the association being evident particularly in women.” Stated more simply, as our body produces cortisol to ward off and protect us from the effects of stress, it negatively impacts our mental and psychological capacities.

Cortisol also curbs body functions that are nonessential, or detrimental, for survival in a threatening situation. One key point in the article is that it alters immune system responses.

According to a Mayo Clinic article, we are hardwired to react to stress. This hardwiring has been key to human survival. So, when we encounter a threat – such as a dog that may attack us – our body’s alarm system goes off to instantly release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.

In addition, the Mayo Clinic article noted, “Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues.”

Dr. Ken Siegel, a world-renown managerial psychologist, recently made me aware of the physiological impact of workplace stress. He noted that we have two competing nervous systems, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system. He explained that the sympathetic nervous system’s primary function is to stimulate the body’s fight-flight-or freeze response. Siegel said, “The sympathetic nervous system is always active at the basic level. You have no control over its initiation: it is biologically hard-wired.”

He further explained that the parasympathetic nervous system helps you recover. It produces a different level of secretion of life-enhancing hormones that helps calm you down. It is thus restorative and regenerative, helping us heal and grow.  

Siegel explained that unfortunately cortisol is secreted. He confirmed that “in doing so, your immune system shuts down – and when your immune system shuts down…you are much more susceptible to disease, illness and chronic levels of disease.”

The point is that a toxic, stressful environment is cumulative and adds up to you being physically sick. Stress can be triggered by your pathological lying co-worker, a person reporting to you who continually does not pull their weight, or a customer who is a constant pain. Or a coward boss who is toxic.

According to Siegel, a lot of executives go into denial regarding the physical implications of work-related stress. He said, “You can adapt for a period of time until your body exhausts itself. So, don’t ignore chronic headaches, gastrointestinal issues, muscle cramping – or any other signs. Be aware of when your body is doing this. It is just not sustainable.”

Siegel further explained that chronic levels of stress often lead to burnout. And, he described real burnout occurs “when the demands of your job exceed your capacity to cope with those demands for a chronic period of time – probably 60-90 days.” He added that burnout is different for every person. But, in the end, it is when your body can no longer deliver some expected level of cognitive and/or physical energy.”

So, consistent stress leads to burnout. Plus, it does not create a great perspective for life satisfaction, job contribution, or relational connectivity.  If you are stressed out by work, you are not growing in your job – and likely, your brain is shrinking.