Stress 101: Don't Go NUTS! | Dr. Sonia Lupien

Dr. Sonia Lupien breaks down what stress really is in New Year, New You: Your Brain on Stress.

Sonia Lupien is the founder and director of the Centre for Studies on Human Stress whose mission is to translate stress related research to the general public. She holds the Canada Research Chair on Human Stress.

A scientific researcher for the last 30 years, Sonia Lupien studies the effects of stress on the human brain, from infancy to adulthood and old age. Her studies have shown that children are as vulnerable as adults to stress and that children as young as age 6 can produce high levels of stress hormones. Her studies in adults have shown that stress can significantly impair memory performance and her studies in older adults have shown the effects of stress on the aging of the brain.

Her latest research projects examine the differences between men and women in stress reactions, and she is developing new educational programs on stress in adolescents and workers. For adolescents, her ‘DeStress for Success’ program aims to teach adolescents making the transition from elementary to high school about ways to control stress. For workers, the ‘Stress Inc’ program aims to help workers recognize and control stress using a computer program.

Sonia has recently published a book entitled ‘Well Stressed: Manage Stress before it Turns Toxic’ that aims to help the public better understand stress.