In fact, the chronically stressed participants who performed a self-affirmation performed as well as the participants who reported having low chronic stress levels.

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There is one silver lining to the APA survey: The percentage of workers who say they feel chronically stressed has come down from 41% in 2012 to 35% this year.

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So, the thinking goes, when something depressing happens to a chronically stressed or anxious person, his brain is unable to bounce back by creating new neurons and neuronal circuits signaling better times ahead.

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