Join the Discussion i am on a good combo of meds and i like them (lithium and lexapro) - i have bipolar disorder. i am not depressed, at least, i do not have ANY depressed thinking at all i DO however, have racing thoughts and i am getting exhausted by all the thoughts and things running thru my mind - but mentally exhausted, you know what i mean? in the meantime, i can lay down and fall asleep even though i am not at all physically tired and even though i am getting plenty of sleep at nite when i try to do stuff, i end up starting one thing, then another then another and finish nothing i have no appetite and can't be bothered to eat, or even get a cup of tea... my mind is racing all the time- and if there is a person around, i end up talking non-stop and jumping from subject to subject. i end up just sitting, too overwhelmed by my thoughts to do anything else. BUT i WANT to do things! So confused, please help!

Related Resources • Work stress can nullify the cardiovascular benefits of a physically demanding job • Path from Chronic Stress to Heart Disease Clarified • People Take Mental Stress to Heart

Scientists continue to study the complex relationships between stress and the heart.  Several studies published in the September/October 2002 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine provide new insight into the complex relationships between stress and heart disease.  Two of the studies looked at the idea that stress may contribute to heart disease, while the third looked at stress that is caused by a heart attack. 

The first two studies summarized here provide further evidence that stress can be a factor in heart disease risk.  The third looks at the stress that is caused by a heart attack.  Click on the titles for more information.

• Remembering Stressful Events May Lead to Later Heart Disease

Laura M. Glynn, Ph.D. and her colleagues performed two studies finding that current emotional stressors and ruminating about past stressors both increase blood pressure. When asked to ruminate on a previously performed emotional task, participants' blood pressure rose to a similar level as when they were actually performing the task. In contrast, thinking back to a physical task (that previously caused an increase in blood pressure) did not raise subjects' blood pressure. 

Reference:
Laura M. Glynn, Nicholas Christenfeld, and William Gerin. The Role of Rumination in Recovery from Reactivity: Cardiovascular Consequences of Emotional States. Psychosom Med 2002 64: 714-726.

• Psychological Distress May Predict Hypertension

Psychological distress, especially anger, anxiety and depression, may be good predictors of high blood pressure.  Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of British Columbia reviewed the results of 15 studies published between 1972 and 2000 that assessed the link between stress and hypertension. The studies measured subjects' levels of anger, anxiety, depression, defensiveness, social support, hopelessness and other psychological factors, and then looked at whether the subjects later developed high blood pressure.  Looking at all of the studies, the researchers assert that the risk of developing hypertension was about 8 percent higher among people who had high psychological distress than among people who had low psychological distress.

Reference:
Thomas Rutledge and Brenda E. Hogan. A Quantitative Review of Prospective Evidence Linking Psychological Factors With Hypertension Development. Psychosom Med 2002 64: 758-766.

• Repressing Anxiety May Protect Against Stress Disorders

People who cope with the aftermath of a heart attack with a repressive coping style - ignoring their anxiety or diverting their attention away -  may adjust better.  The repressive study participants had lower rates of acute stress disorders than highly anxious study participants did, but higher rates than low-anxiety study participants did.

Reference:
Karni Ginzburg, Zahava Solomon, and Avi Bleich. Repressive Coping Style, Acute Stress Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Myocardial Infarction. Psychosom Med 2002 64: 748-757.