"A
quiet mind cureth all."
Robert Burton
Most emotional
and psychological disorders are perennially related to stress; they are
either caused by stress or cause stress. Stressful situations, whether
long-term or short-term, can set forth a series of emotional symptoms
such as a feeling of personality disintegration, phobia,
anxiety, unfocussed
attention or distractions, exaggerated emotional responses and psychological
discomposure such as depression, confusion, burn out and, never forget
the resultant, vehicular accidents. No wonder, under persistent stress,
an individual suffers from spiritual riots within himself.
These perturbations
in emotional and psychological health may cause or exacerbate debilitating
disorders, which can stop life on its track. Because studies show as
much as 50 to 80 per cent of all the complaints treated by physicians
are psychosomatic ailments resulting from stress.
Almost all stress related mind-body illnesses are known to cause sleep
disorders such as sleep apnea, delayed sleep phase syndrome, and even
oversleeping. In extreme cases stressors can cause insomnia.
Chronic stress conditions can lead to various Attention-Deficiency Disorders
such as ADD
and ADHD. Which are again products of the demands of modern life and
its priorities.
Individuals with Attention-Deficiency Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive
Type (ADD) exhibit six or more symptoms of inattention and less than six
symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity. They usually exhibit some of the
following symptoms: inattention, distractibility, disorganization, daydreaming,
lack of foresight, carelessness, forgetfulness, lack of motivation, lack
of persistence, and procrastination.
Individuals with Attention-Deficiency Disorder, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
Type (ADHD) usually exhibit six or more symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity
and less than six symptoms of inattention. They usually exhibit some of
the following symptoms: hyperactivity, fidgeting behavior, restlessness,
excessive talking, inappropriate running and climbing, often "on
the go," can't wait, interrupt others, and impulsiveness.
Constant stress can ruin one's spirit, slowing down the motivation to
lead a meaningful life. Under stress an individual may fall into compulsive,
obsessive behavior and fear. Stressed out individuals seem to be easily
charmed by negative habits of procrastination, addiction to alcohol, smoking
and substance abuse. Addictions (alcohol, drugs, et al), as stress responses,
depend on many factors:
one's false sense of relief through it,
the intensity and type of stress and one's inability to cope with
these,
as a genetic stress response,
non-availability of social support as a cushion against stress.
All these debilitating mental traits arise from a loss of self-confidence
and inner strength. Prolonged pressure and inabilty to disburse with the
same lead individuals to such situations.
Spiritual paths such as Yoga, and holistic healing methods such as Pranic
healing and Reiki speak of a luminous energy body that encircles an individual's
physical body. This is composed of subtle particles (life force) and intimately
related to one's emotional conditions. Under chronic stress, this energy
body or aura gets depleted due to inadequate absorption of 'life force'
or prana into body, and the energy pathways or chakras are
blocked with stagnant and toxic prana leading to imbalances in
body, mind and spirit . An individual tends to lose his all round composure
and fails to look for solutions within. A depleted and weakened aura can
incapacitate one to remain connected to his 'self' and even to the outside
world. This sense of disconnectedness can cause depression in individuals.
Research shows stressors can distort one's spiritual
well being. Symptoms such as self-doubt, jealousy, suspicion, difficulties
in interpersonal relationships, feelings of loneliness, sense of inadequacy
and sexual problems are directly linked to one's spiritual disturbances.
Stressed out individuals are known to rush into self-injury, suicidal
attempts and fatal accidents.