Jane has been feeling totally stressed out. She is 18 years old and lives with three other girls in a small apartment. She and her roommates bicker a lot and Jane is clearly at the bottom of the social order. The others push her around and she tends to avoid them. Lately, she can’t help but grimace when one of the dominant, bossy girls approaches. When she lived by herself, Jane was slim and ate a balanced diet, but since she has been in this pressure-cooker of an apartment, she’s taken to snacking all day and all night and choosing high-fat foods over more healthy fare. Her weight and waistline have increased significantly. When she went to the doctor, tests revealed high levels of corticosteroid stress hormones in her blood. These days, when one of her domineering roommates approaches, Jane will emit a submissive squeal and retreat to the corner.
