About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about coping with stress, focusing in particular on: (i) outlining the two primary drug types used to regulate stress levels: benzodiazepines and beta blockers; (ii) describing benzodiazepines as working by activating the naturally occurring gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter, which serves to decrease brain activity and create a state of relaxation; (iii) describing beta blockers, also used to control high blood pressure, which block the action of adrenaline and noradrenaline directly, reducing the feelings of increased heart rate when under stress; (iv) a criticism of drug treatments being that they only treat the symptoms of stress instead of the source, something that therapies like cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) can do; (v) stress inoculation training as a form of CBT, designed to prepare clients for stressful situations and increase their resilience to the effects of stress; (vi) a third method for coping with stress outlined as using biofeedback in the form of conditioning therapy; (vii) a fourth method being social support, separated into Cutrona and Suhr’s five categories: informational, emotional, esteem, social support network and tangible support.

About the lecturer

Dr Livia Tomova is a research associate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge, with an interest in how stress, loneliness and social isolation affect the brain and mind. Dr Tomova’s current research focuses on biological markers indicating vulnerability to the effects of isolation and loneliness in adolescents and young adults. Some of Dr Tomova’s recent publications include 'The effects of social deprivation on adolescent development and mental health' (2020) and 'Acute stress alters neural patterns of value representation for others' (2020).