STRESS A NEW

PERSPECTIVE
K.R.V.HARI

STRESS
SO FAR
Stress was thought of as the effect on our
bodies of external conditions (people and
events) beyond our control

NOW
We are now learning that our
inappropriate response to the external
conditions causes stress in us
Let us see how our own thoughts and reactions create stress in
us
K.R.V.HARI hari.krv@gmail.com

THE ACTION REACTION

CYCLE
We all know this
We use our sense organs to know the world
Our mind obtains this information and evaluates it
Our feelings are based on signals from our mind
regarding the external environment
Our actions are dependant on directions from our
mind.
The results of our actions are fed back to us
through our sense organs and the cycle goes
on.
K.R.V.HARI hari.krv@gmail.com

MAIN PROBLEM
Our mind is compulsively
thinking all the time
REGRETS about the past

WORRIES about the

future

The Present Moment is

missed
To cope with this we develop AUTOPILOT MODES of behavior to react to
situations based on past experiences without fully perceiving them
K.R.V.HARI hari.krv@gmail.com

AUTOPILOT LIVING
Mind Preoccupied with
Worries & Regrets

VICIOUS
CIRCLE

Incomplete
Assessment of
Situation

Erroneous Actions that

aggravate Problems
We can watch this in real
time if we dispassionately
watch our thoughts & actions
for a day
K.R.V.HARI hari.krv@gmail.com

Autopilot
actions
repeat same
mistakes
and end up
with same
problems
again and
again.
Familiar?

INTERNAL CAUSES OF
STRESS
Compulsive thinking exaggerates problems
and makes threats appear larger
This leads to alarm signals in the body
worry & anxiety
The alarm signals charge the emotions in the
body anger & fear - which have no outlet
Repeated false alarms lead to build up of
charged emotions in the body
K.R.V.HARI hari.krv@gmail.com

THE FULL FORCE OF STRESS

Hasty reactions
based on improper
assessments
overwhelm us with
problems

Pent up emotional
charges with no
outlet attack the
body
K.R.V.HARI hari.krv@gmail.com

Mistakes,
failures,
fights,
losses,
debts,
addictions

Headaches,
digestive
disorders,
sleep
problems,
blood
pressure,
diabetes