Blood pressure Quote by Ron Powers
““These genetic malfunctions are unlikely to produce schizophrenia in an individual unless they are stimulated by environmental conditions. By far the most causative environmental factor is stress, especially during gestation in the womb, early childhood, and adolescence—stages in which the brain is continually reshaping itself, and thus vulnerable to disruption. Stress can take the form of a person's enduring sustained anger, fear, or anxiety, or a combination of these. Stress works its damage by prompting an oversupply of cortisol, the normally life sustaining “stress hormone” that converts high energy glycogen to glucose in liver and in muscle tissue. Yet when it is called upon to contain a rush of glycogen, cortisol can transform itself into “Public Enemy Number One,” as one health advocate put it. The steroid hormone swells to flood levels and triggers weight gain, high blood pressure, heart disease, damage to the immune system, and an overflow of cholesterol. Stress is likely a trigger for schizophrenia.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Dark Side of the Mind”, 2020
Genetic predisposition to schizophrenia rarely manifests without chronic stress during key developmental periods.
In simple terms: Stress triggers schizophrenia in vulnerable people.
Manage stress to reduce mental health risk.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- pregnancy counseling
- school programs
- therapy
- public health policy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies lower stress for children?
- What interventions help at‑risk individuals?
Stress is not the only factor.