When we encounter a challenge in our Self (self definition), Intimacy (love definition), or Achievement sphere (work definition) that is either positive or negative, we can experience Stress or Fear.

In the Lifetrack model of health, individuals rate their peaks of stress as they relate to changes in their sense of self, intimate relationships and achievements.

This helps us understand not only the nature of stress, but how we can use challenges to overcome symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Five Stress Types

Symptoms of stress can be varied.  For simplification Dr. Yukio Ishizuka groups them into five major stress types: anxiety (symptoms of stress and anxiety), anger (stress and anger), physical symptoms (physical symptoms of stress), depression (depression stress), and psychosis.

Regardless of how bright, strong, or resilient you may be, if the challenges you face in life are more than you can handle, one or more of the above symptoms may manifest itself.  These symptoms may not subside until you respond to the source of distress.

Observe them and recognize that these distress signals are there to alert you that you have surpassed your stress threshold in one or more of the three spheres.  You may have to slow down and re-assess what is causing stress.  Only after a proper recognition of realities can one gain perspective and take positive action to build inner health.

As overwhelming as such symptoms may be, they are temporary.  They are not you.  Seek a proper recognition of realities, perspective, decision and action that build health.  If you cannot bear the suffering or are not able to breakthrough, reach out to loved ones, to your spouse, a friend or a professional.

Stress Definition

Negative Peak: Negative peak experiences within a given rating period.

Anxiety: Thoughts, feelings and actions that signal anxiety, nervousness, tension, worry, and fear.

Anger:  Thoughts, feelings, and actions that are angry, unfriendly, hostile, and mean

Physical Symptoms: Any and all physical symptoms and feeling of illness

Depression: Thoughts, feelings, and actions that are negative to the point of being beyond your control

Psychosis:  Thoughts, feelings, and actions that signal inconsistency, confusion, inappropriateness, ambivalence or paralysis

Note on Psychosis:

Psychosis as defined here can be even applied to the ‘healthy’ mind.  Traditionally psychosis is used to describe the ‘mentally ill’ ie. a person talking to himself or herself out loud or experiencing visions.  Most of us have fortunately never experienced such a painful state (although many ‘healthy’ people when placed under enough stress such as a battlefield do).

Even healthy people think to themselves.  You may be aware of a voice (your own thoughts) constantly replaying what you should have done yesterday or will not get to do tomorrow.  For most of us, this is normal.

However, negative or inconsistent thoughts when playing over and over may contribute to paralysis, confusion, scattered behavior or exhaustion.  When we obsessively think about what to do next or what we should have done yesterday, our ‘inner voice’ is out of control.  We can rate this ‘loud’ inner voice in the Lifetrack scale as ‘psychosis.’  This state can occur in ‘healthy’ human beings. When trained our state of mind can be clear and in the present moment, free of such incessant noise.

Someone who experiences traditional psychotic symptoms (frightening visions, or cannot distinguish the inner voice from outer voices) may lose his or her capacity, to think, feel and act coherently.  He or she is not able to recognize the symptoms of psychosis nor to rate himself or herself until medication has returned the mind to normal functioning.

Psychotic symptoms must be treated by professional help.  Medications are essential to control such symptoms.  Once controlled, the individual can then return to the same challenge of becoming closer to another human being, developing a sense of self or achievement.  Due to the nature of the symptoms, however, such individuals need a strong support system and most must continue medications even when feeling well.

Copyright © 2010 Lifetrack Corporation

Visit http://www.PositiveMentalHealthFoundation.com to understand individuals at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

Read more about overcoming fear, five stress symptoms (stress types), stress techniques, and alternatives of the threshold of stress (don’t hate life).  In Lifetrack therapy the objective is not the mere elimination of stress symptoms, but building inner health and happiness.

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