Is Stress Bad, Taboo in Medicine, Megan Thee Stallion

1. Is Stress Bad For Us?

First let me just say that stress is unavoidable. I’ve never met a soul who doesn’t experience stress. And if they say that they don’t, they are lying to you and themselves. So is stress bad for us? Just like so many things in life, the answer is yes AND no. 

Short term stress can actually benefit your brain. It activates an area of our brain called the hippocampus (fun fact, hippocampus translates to “seahorse” in Greek because it looks like seahorse lol), which is responsible for memory formation. It also activates the amygdala, which helps us respond to danger. Short term stress boosts cortisol, which in the short term can improve our immune system by reducing inflammation. 

Chronic stress, on the other hand, can harm the brain. Chronic stress can cause damage to the hippocampus, leading to memory problems. It can also lead to overactivity in the amygdala, leading to anxiety. Under chronic stress, the body produces too much cortisol which can lead to anxiety, depression, and more. 

So in summary, if you can prevent stress from becoming “chronic”, it can actually be helpful for you. Some ways to reduce stress include exercise (I personally love yoga, running, and soccer for this), relaxation (i.e. breathing exercises) and professional help (i.e. therapy!) 

2. What Nobody Talks About in Medicine

There’s a culture in medicine to suppress our feelings when it comes to patients dying. I’ve experienced it myself numerous times throughout med school and residency. It’s really, really hard. We always hear things like:  “Keep moving.” “There’s no time”. “It’s part of the job.” 

We repeat mantras like this to protect us, to shield us, so that we can continue on. But I don’t think it works in the long run. I don’t think it’s fair to our mental health to “keep going”. I would like to practice medicine in a culture in which stopping, reflecting, and debriefing occur when a patient passes away.

These conversations are essential. These conversations allow healing to take place. These conversations make us human. I love being a doctor. And it can be really hard…

3. Mental Health in Popular Culture

Have you heard Megan Thee Stallion’s new song, Cobra? If not, I definitely recommend (trigger warning: song contains graphic language and mentions suicidal ideation). 

The song opens with this verse:

Breakin' down and I had the whole world watchin'

But the worst part is really who watched me

Every night I cried, I almost died

And nobody close tried to stop it

Long as everybody gettin' paid, right?

She speaks about her emotions, anxiety, self-doubt, depression, issues with alcohol, and thoughts of ending her life. She is rich and famous, and also openly dealing with mental health issues.

This song is a perfect example of the fact that money and fame do not protect us from mental health conditions. Depression does not care how much money you have. By opening up to the world, Megan Thee Stallion contributes to breaking down the walls of silence and shame that often surround mental health challenges.

Thank you Megan for being so open about your mental health and helping others feel less alone.