Anatomy of stress
Homeostasis, may be defined as the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes. This means that the body works with a certain set of parameters for proper functioning, like body temperature etc., and when this parameter is disturbed, the body takes compensatory action to bring it back to equilibrium.
In any stress situation, this state is disturbed, resulting in a psychosomatic imbalance. The primary impulse/stimulus is received by the amygdala, a small pea sized organ behind the eyes and between the ears for evaluation of threat. When the amygdala perceives threat, it triggers the hypothalamus which, in turn, transmits the threat to the adrenal glands through the pituitary gland. This input releases adrenaline and cortisol into the blood stream, activating the sympathetic nervous system, allowing the body to react to meet the threat.
Since all stimuli are potential sources of stress, all stimuli gets evaluated by the amygdala for threat. The amygdala is a repository of experience or anubhava. Both good and bad experiences are stored here and this is called conditioning or svadharma. Conditioning is the source of our behavior or svabhava. Our relationship with our environment is a weave of our conditioning with our behavior and this is called svatantra or self-weave or personality.
All stimuli cause change. Change causes confusion which is known as tamas. This stimulus enters the amygdala and is compared with the resident conditioning. This leads to a response which is raajas. The response and feedback leads to better understanding of the stimulus or homeostasis or sattva. This balance is ever changing and the process is called guna or attribute.
Tamas (Inertia): This aspect is characterised by fear, laziness, indolence, confusion, delusion etc. A person with a predominance of this state is generally vacillatory, lethargic, prone to giving excuses and indecisive.
Raajas (Passion): This state governs nearly all forms of passion and is driven primarily by emotional and intellectual stimulus. Raajas is characterised by a predominant focus on personal achievement and gratification. A person in this state would typically be result oriented, dominating, driving, aggressive, impatient etc.
Sattva (Harmony): This state is characterised by harmony. It is demonstrated when a person tries to balance result with resource or process, task result with quality and relationships etc. A person in this state avoids confrontation, but in a conflict situation, is calm, absorbs emotional outburst and avoids personal or judgmental remarks.
Stress is experiential and very personal. Only the person experiencing it knows the discomfort of stress. Time, place, situation and capability, all could trigger a stress reaction. A situation that stresses one person need not stress another, even those who are genetically related. Also, that which stresses one at any point in time need not affect the same person in the same manner at other times.
Finally, as propounded by Abraham Maslow, when, in any situation where safety and security are endangered, stress in these issues would take precedence over other issues.
The best way to deal with stress is to manage it as the experience unfolds and as the stress begins to manifest itself; to be aware of the stimulus and test it against ones conditioning before responding. Keep an open mind to learning and be sensitive to impact on others.
This ability to manage stress as it occurs is called Situational Awareness.
Situational Awareness may be defined as the degree of accuracy by which one’s perception of his current environment mirrors reality.
Anecdotes, experiences and situations to help understand…
Example: A person is using an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) for the first time. The person has been issued an ATM card by the bank and has to now go through several actions before being able to use the account, starting with registering the PIN (Personal Identification Number).
Imagine the person’s state when for the first time he/she has to work with the ATM. First is confusion “How am I going to do this?” or anxiety/ fear “What will happen if…?” This is Tamas.
Next comes anger or irritation - “This is ridiculous! How do they expect me to operate this machine without training?” This is Raajas.
Finally, there is acceptance and ownership. “Let’s see what we can do”. The person then hacks around and finds a solution, either by doing it himself or by asking someone. This is Satva.
Then comes success, an awareness of having found a solution. The person will rarely experience the same anxiety again. The stress of this particular situation has been overcome!
Share your opinion and experiences;
Homeostasis, may be defined as the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes. This means that the body works with a certain set of parameters for proper functioning, like body temperature etc., and when this parameter is disturbed, the body takes compensatory action to bring it back to equilibrium.
In any stress situation, this state is disturbed, resulting in a psychosomatic imbalance. The primary impulse/stimulus is received by the amygdala, a small pea sized organ behind the eyes and between the ears for evaluation of threat. When the amygdala perceives threat, it triggers the hypothalamus which, in turn, transmits the threat to the adrenal glands through the pituitary gland. This input releases adrenaline and cortisol into the blood stream, activating the sympathetic nervous system, allowing the body to react to meet the threat.
Since all stimuli are potential sources of stress, all stimuli gets evaluated by the amygdala for threat. The amygdala is a repository of experience or anubhava. Both good and bad experiences are stored here and this is called conditioning or svadharma. Conditioning is the source of our behavior or svabhava. Our relationship with our environment is a weave of our conditioning with our behavior and this is called svatantra or self-weave or personality.
All stimuli cause change. Change causes confusion which is known as tamas. This stimulus enters the amygdala and is compared with the resident conditioning. This leads to a response which is raajas. The response and feedback leads to better understanding of the stimulus or homeostasis or sattva. This balance is ever changing and the process is called guna or attribute.
Tamas (Inertia): This aspect is characterised by fear, laziness, indolence, confusion, delusion etc. A person with a predominance of this state is generally vacillatory, lethargic, prone to giving excuses and indecisive.
Raajas (Passion): This state governs nearly all forms of passion and is driven primarily by emotional and intellectual stimulus. Raajas is characterised by a predominant focus on personal achievement and gratification. A person in this state would typically be result oriented, dominating, driving, aggressive, impatient etc.
Sattva (Harmony): This state is characterised by harmony. It is demonstrated when a person tries to balance result with resource or process, task result with quality and relationships etc. A person in this state avoids confrontation, but in a conflict situation, is calm, absorbs emotional outburst and avoids personal or judgmental remarks.
Stress is experiential and very personal. Only the person experiencing it knows the discomfort of stress. Time, place, situation and capability, all could trigger a stress reaction. A situation that stresses one person need not stress another, even those who are genetically related. Also, that which stresses one at any point in time need not affect the same person in the same manner at other times.
Finally, as propounded by Abraham Maslow, when, in any situation where safety and security are endangered, stress in these issues would take precedence over other issues.
The best way to deal with stress is to manage it as the experience unfolds and as the stress begins to manifest itself; to be aware of the stimulus and test it against ones conditioning before responding. Keep an open mind to learning and be sensitive to impact on others.
This ability to manage stress as it occurs is called Situational Awareness.
Situational Awareness may be defined as the degree of accuracy by which one’s perception of his current environment mirrors reality.
Anecdotes, experiences and situations to help understand…
Example: A person is using an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) for the first time. The person has been issued an ATM card by the bank and has to now go through several actions before being able to use the account, starting with registering the PIN (Personal Identification Number).
Imagine the person’s state when for the first time he/she has to work with the ATM. First is confusion “How am I going to do this?” or anxiety/ fear “What will happen if…?” This is Tamas.
Next comes anger or irritation - “This is ridiculous! How do they expect me to operate this machine without training?” This is Raajas.
Finally, there is acceptance and ownership. “Let’s see what we can do”. The person then hacks around and finds a solution, either by doing it himself or by asking someone. This is Satva.
Then comes success, an awareness of having found a solution. The person will rarely experience the same anxiety again. The stress of this particular situation has been overcome!
Share your opinion and experiences;
- How do you recognise your value system (svadharma)?
- How do you recognise that you are stressed?
- How do you recognise that your coping actions are not adequate?
- What would svatantra mean for your team, your company, your state or country.
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