NAMA, NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (PART 15) DR SHRINIWAS J. KASHALIKAR

Student: But are the stressors always dangerous?

Teacher: No. The environment neither remains unchanged nor does it change within a given restricted range. So the living beings are equipped to overcome (and even get benefited from) stressors!
This is why; physical exercise, emotional excitement, intellectual work etc. are often beneficial when moderate or optimum. Sometimes this beneficial stress is referred to as “eustress”. EU is used as a prefix, meaning good or well.
When the stressors increase in number, frequency, duration, intensity or complexity, beyond the capacity of an individual; the internal environment undergoes greater change (distress) with greater variations and with greater speed! This results in adverse effects on body cells, with or without clinical signs and symptoms! This is what is happening today; as we have seen earlier.

Student: Can we call the ill effects of stress; prarabdha?

Teacher: When we seem to understand (although superficially) the causes; we term it pathophysiology of stress! When we fail to understand the root causes of the pathophysiology; we term it prarabdha!

Student: Sir! I have reasonably understood the nature of stress and its causes! But why it is me who is suffering from stress?

Teacher: As I said earlier; stress is ubiquitous. It is darker side of life; and the brighter side is Total Stress Management! Hence; every one of us, although to a variable extent, suffers from stress. Some fortunate realize it earlier and some are destined to realize it later.

Student: But I was never aware of the ghastly nature of this menace! Why is this so?

Teacher: This is because; as you can appreciate; stress is usually; a slow process. It acts like slow poisoning and hence goes unnoticed until it acquires serious dimensions. When noticed; we attribute it to more apparent entities; such as infection (which itself can result due to stress!). You can understand this if you appreciate the fact that we “see” the dust particles moving in a dust storm but fail to notice the wind, which actually moves the dust particles! Moreover; even if we identify “stress” we don’t have proper understanding of it; just as we don’t understand democracy, socialism, secularism, god, dharma etc. Besides; we are habituated to put up a brave face even when we are suffering; because of shyness and apprehension of being insulted, humiliated, ridiculed, pitied, sympathized or even exploited. Other more obvious reasons are illiteracy, poverty, lack of time, lack of information, lack of dialogue, lack of communication, lack of curiosity, apathy and so on (which are actually due to stress).

Student: In view of the wide range of the mechanisms, causes and the incidence of stress; the extent of medical ailments and general suffering due to stress are also enormous! Isn’t it?

Teacher: Yes! It is true! The effects of stress are numerous. But the most important damage common to all varieties of suffering; is forgetfulness about the true self. This is dehumanization. This is true dying before physical death!
The stress harms our mind. It produces tension, anxiety, worry, fear, despair, helplessness, dejection, irritability, restlessness, apathy, suffocation, lack of confidence, listlessness, depression, self pity, sadness, frustration, unpleasant dreams, disturbances of sleep, suicidal tendencies, abnormal and excessive fear of cancer, heart disease, diabetes etc. and undesirable habits such as nail biting and habit of moving a leg or hands unconsciously. It harms our family. Thus, there is lack of; warmth, dialogue, mutual respect, love, indifference towards one another, petty quarrels, bitterness, violence, impatience, intolerance, lack of harmony, lack of cleanliness etc. It reduces our performance. Inefficiency, absenteeism, indifference, irresponsibility and carelessness towards duty, lack of discipline; are the results of stress. In addition; intelligence is also affected. Thus; forgetfulness, confusion, indecision, difficulty in problem solving, lack of imagination, difficulty in learning are caused by stress. It deteriorates our social behavior also. It leads to Pettiness, dishonesty, lawlessness, lack of punctuality, unreliability, deception, corruption, crime and our matrimonial relations leading to discord, separation, divorce etc.
Stress adversely affects our body! Thus it harms our sexuality, immune system, eyes and vision, ears & hearing, nose and sense of smell , mouth, heart and blood vessels, muscles and joints, connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments, respiratory system, digestive system, genital - Urinary system, reproductive system, endocrine system, nervous system, blood and so on!

It affects our posture, skin, hair and looks also; distinctly and unmistakably! If you compare a photo of your childhood & a recent one, then you will appreciate this!

Student: I have noticed this!