Pouring from and Empty Cup: The Neuroscience of Stress and How to Hold the Line of High Performance

Stress sucks. It makes easy things difficult and it makes difficult things even more challenging. If you are not feeling at least a little pressure every day on the job, you are likely not paying attention. “Eustress”, “distress”, “burnout”. . . each of these terms carries a weight that takes a toll on our physical bodies and punishes our emotional and mental selves.
This session will review the neuroscience behind stress – what happens from a structural and chemical perspective in the human brain when exposed to a stimulus that is perceived to be stressful. How does neuroplasticity, stress inoculation, and compassion fatigue change our brains and what can we do about it? Attendees will develop a deeper understanding of the consequences of working in a stressful environment, discover techniques for managing physiological changes, and discuss methods of supporting ourselves and our team mates in the face of increasingly difficult situations. It is important to adequately prepare for stressors of the job, manage emotions associated with caring for sick and injured patients in the moment, and mitigate the negative impact of stress following exposure to a difficult event. This talk will review what is known about work stressors, the statistical burden of burnout and other consequences of stress, and what we can all do to make sure we continue to provide the highest level of care to our patients while remaining healthy along the way.