Resolving Stress Somehow

Cults are stress-bringers, and stress needs to be resolved before it gets harmful. We may begin this stress study with an optimistic attitude - and any 'you' below is supposed to be general.

We may lie down on a coach. Relax. Take a few deep breaths too, if we like, and don't think of anything for a few seconds. Then we bear in mind that what is given here is just a general description of how to get to grips with some forms of stress, and with adaptation-caused stress mainly.

Relaxing and trying to reach non-judging awareness is good in counseling therapy too. Here are a few things from it that are helpful far and wide [see Bai, Kurt: Livet og Pengene (Life and Money), 1981:91].

Going for Gains . . .

Think of how you yourself may gain from the knowledge that is found, and not exactly how you may come to get hundreds of unpaid workers (with a devotee syndrome) to help you out by playing complementary parts to desires of grandeur - or whatever [Bai, 1981:95, 97.]

The Russian researcher Dr. Ivan Semyonovich Khorol has defined stress in step with a definition by Dr. Hans Selye:

Biological stress is the organism's general reaction to any demand to it - whether pleasant or unpleasant - which demands adaptation to a new situation. - Ivan Semyonovich Khorol [in Bai, 1981:99.]

Such stress can be brought about my many things and stress can be many things: "Good stress" is even called one of the spices of life as you try for good gains. But when the burdens exceed the ability to cope at any time, stress becomes detrimental to health. "Chronic stress can contribute to physical disorders, such as ulcers and heart disease, and can increase our vulnerability to infectious diseases by impairing the functioning of the body's immune system." [Atkinson, Richard and others: Introduction to Psychology, 1987:486 (?)]

The biological stress mechanism has these four stages:

1. The alarm reaction (fright, fight, or flight).
2. Adaptation.
3. Depletion - through protracted, stressful adaptation.
4. The energy for adaptations may stop [see Bai, 1981:100.]

We often get exposed to intense stress that demands more adaptation energy than normally, and then the organism emits what Dr. Selye calls a "distress signal", one or more "maydays" of some sorts [Bai, 1981:102].

1. Even minor stress may wear on us and wear us out if it goes on for long. Protracted stress of such as mild and medium intensity may wear on the organism and also cause (or co-cause) functional disorders.
2. Intense stress may cause hypertension, stomach ulcers and diabetes and many other common ailments. Medical experts today seem to agree that over 50% (estimates may range between 50 and 70%) of the common bodily diseases are caused or co-caused by stress. [Smith et al, Hilgard's Introduction to Psychology, 2003:505]

Sources: [Bai, 1981:102-3, also see Atkinson, Richard et al, 1987:471]

In Murky Waters

Dr. Khorol holds that there are norms of social behaviour, and some are deeply ingrained in the culture by traditions. When someone senses a discrepancy (gap, deviation) between what he is used to (habituated to) regard as normal or common or appropriate, his social adaptation mechanisms will drive or urge him to try and change the situation. That is one outlet. Another is introverted, guilt-ridden too, perhaps [Bai, 1981:103.]

The difference between the ideal and what is really going on may be awfully hard on the urge to make a consistent world picture, or it may be hard on one's sense of belonging. In Dr. Gordon Allport's view, a truly religious attitude contains both elements: a sense of belong in a world that makes deep sense. "The religious sentiment . . . has attachments to the most elusive facets of becoming. . . To feel oneself meaningfully linked to the whole of Being". [Allport, Gordon: Becoming: Basic Considerations for a Psychology of Personality, 1955:93-94.]

It may be dangerous to get involved in religious assertions or conflicts for many reasons. In any such conflict one may try to (1) change one's society (in-group, or e.g. SRF), or, if that doesn't work, (2) one abides by the present status quo and renounces on one's ideals. It can make you feigning, which in the long run turns into neuroticism, and one may become cynical from giving up proper assertiveness, idealism, and other assets.

Faith in Conformist Gains is a Wonder and Danger

One has to have enough faith in and confidence in oneself. One should not renounce heartfelt norms and ideals (idealism) for the sake of conformist gains, after all [see Bai, 1981:105.]

However, in religious settings such conflict stress can become intense and aggravate one's health if the gap between the ideal (teachings, etc.) and what is planted as "official", may get too wide and bad and it is felt to be important. Then members may be in for frustrations, especially those members who are committed and also able to think thoughts of their own, observe first-hand, and are firm enough to deal with possible guilt for going against the underhand expected conformism. Different variants of stress may combine, and persons may break [Bai, 1981:103-5]

Hints of Stress Levels Help

Drs. Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe at Washington Medical School devised a scheme of stressors and first tried it on 2500 sailors, and then others. It is much used. [Top of the scale] [Smith et al, 2003:496-97]. For more, see Wikipedia (s.v. "Holmes and Rahe stress scale").

Why not try the simple test yourself? It is online and free: [◦Life Events Stress Test]

Death of spouse is stipulated to be the worst thing that could happen (stress-wise). It is given 100 points. Wedding is given 50 points as the middle of the scale, in comparison. It appears that about 10 of the 14 worst stressors (stress agents, stress causes) link up with having a family. There are different sorts of families. Not all are good.

To the degree that SRF is taken to be our family, and gurus are looked on as godly spouses, we can be in for trouble, even serious, stressing adaptation trouble: If you discover solid differences between what is taught (inconsistencies in major teachings included), and between what is maintained in authentic teachings and what is steadily promoted through works, doings, PR and the like, you have to face a conflict better than putting your head in a hole.

The more faith and intense belongingness you invested in SRF and its world, the more a discrepancy between what was accepted and incorporated in you in good faith and what is seen and felt in time, could maim and hurt. Some, who eventually break loose some way or other, may not want to live on, even. Their "faith-reservoar" has been tampered with. Think of that.

And of those who choose conformity instead of standing up for themselves somewhat, are in reality ridiculed by leaders eager to have their way.

Illness Predictions Too

The stress scale is further used to predict the odds of getting ill or even die - in this way:

Add the stressors you have experienced during the last 12 months:

1. With a total score of less than 150, there is "merely" 37% chance of getting ill (from that past stress) in the next 2 years.
2. With a total score between 150 and 300 points, the chance of getting ill is 51% in the coming two years.
3. With a total score above 300 you may have 80% change of getting ill in the next two years.

All these figures should be considered to be rough estimates only, for real life is not as clear-cut as that. [see Bai, 1981:106-7, and Atkinson, Richard et al., 1987:468.]

Clear-Cut: Coping Knowledge and Stress Knowledge Increase our Odds of Survival and Success

1. Some individuals are naturally more able to withstand stress (are more stress-resistant) than average, and the points about are average stipulations only.
2. Further, learning about stress and how to cope with it, can increase the odds of maintaining health and of survival too.

These things should be done to combat the effects of insincere leaders in a family of a sort. In a fine and functional family, one of the goals is to shield member autonomy and help the children on and up to become functional on their own. That "family outlook" is often forgotten in cults, regrettably.

To realize yourself in your work is a boon. Are you jolly - from inside? It could be a hallmark of being well adapted - in the mainstream or not in the mainstream [see Bai, 1981:93, 95.]

Later studies focus somewhat differently, by the use of other concepts. But the Rahe-Holmes scale is there still, and the issues exposed above are hardly ever contradicted.