NAMA, NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (PART 12) DR SHRINIWAS J. KASHALIKAR

Student: I understood these mechanisms to some extent, not completely. But from what I gathered; these mechanisms are wide ranging. For triggering such wide ranging mechanisms to come in operation; the causes or the dimensions of stress must also be wide ranging; are they?

Teacher: Yes! They are! Let us consider these stressors starting from non living beings to human beings!

Student: Why do we consider the nonliving?

Teacher: The holistic perspective comprehends living (CHARA) and non living (ACHARA) to be in continuity! From a very basic understanding point of view we can say that the stressors and stress; are present in nonliving things! Thus stress of mechanical nature (not biological) is present in nonliving things! When force is applied to an object, there is definite internal change and displacement in the object. This force is akin to stressor in the case of living beings, the internal change is akin to homeostatic change; i.e. change in the internal environment in case of the living beings and the displacement of an object is akin to stress response in case of living beings.
It is obvious that if an object is subjected to a force, which it cannot sustain, then it may be damaged. This damage is akin to an abnormal change in the internal environment. The excessive displacement is analogous to disease in a living being.
Next to the nonliving things we can see stressors and stress; in unicellular animals! The stressors here are in the form of exaggerated physical, chemical and biological changes in the environment inside and outside. These are relatively, more complex as compared to those in nonliving things; and are less stereotypical, though still, fairly predictable.
Followed by unicellular; we come to multicellular (many cells coming together to form an organism or an animal!) animals, which are higher in evolutionary scale. In these animals there is development of central nervous system, autonomic nervous system and endocrine system. This leads to a perceptible increase in the level of consciousness. Thus they become conscious of the sensations (Visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, pain, temperature, itching, gravity, acceleration etc.). Moreover they possess instincts. Hence these animals suffer, if deprived of their instincts! I call such deprivation an instinctual stressor.

Student: Can you explain this?

Teacher: The foremost instinct is that of survival! Fear of predator produces stress and is evident when a cat faces a dog! The next is locomotion. If an animal is confined to a cage preventing the locomotion altogether; or is exposed to abnormally rapid movement, then stress is produced which damages the body systems. Next is a particular environment to which it is accustomed. It is called habitat. Changing this environment causes stress. Hunger and thirst are also instincts. If an animal is deprived of food; or there is change in the type or timing of food; cause stress. If there is change in the source and timing of water (as in case of animals in zoo) or altogether unavailability of water; it produces stress. Reproduction, parental care, herd formation; are also instincts. Abstinence from sex, herd and separation from the newborn offspring; also cause stress.