Toward a Psychology of Stress Chapter 4

“Modern man is sick because he is not whole.” —Carl Gustav Jung

Sigmund Freud Instinctual tension - the mind attempts to cater to the body’s impulses in socially acceptable ways. This internal tension can be decreased, but because of the power of human instincts, it is never fully extinguished.

Some of Freud’s Defensive Mechanisms Denial (I didn’t do it.) Repression (I don’t remember doing it.) Projection (He did it.) Rationalization (Everyone does it.) Displacement (He made me do it.) Humor (I did it, and a year from now I’ll laugh about it!)

Sigmund Freud’s Egg Metaphor Yolk Id Ego – seeks pleasure while avoiding pain. Has to control the flood of impulses from the id. Id – Impulses come from the Id Egg Ego

Carl Gustav Jung Personality is a process of self-discovery and realization Individuation – self-realization leading to wholeness (experiences and spiritual life force) Innate tension between the conscious and unconscious minds. Individuation (soul searching) - a bridge of understanding between conscious and unconscious.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (The death of unmet expectations) Stress can be aroused by the death of unmet expectations. Processes = denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance Resolution of emotions leads to acceptance which enhances inner peace (adaptation and no longer a victim).

Stages of Death and Grieving 1. Denial (This isn’t happening) 2. Anger (I am furious this is happening) 3. Bargaining (Well, OK, as long as…) 4. Withdrawal (silence) 5. Acceptance (OK, this is it, now let’s get on with things) Never stated, yet implied, is the 6th stage: 6. Adaptation (How do I adapt to the situation?)

Other… Viktor Frankl – A search for the meaning of life. “Spirituality” - refers to balance of faith in self-reliance and individual will Wayne Dyer - guilt (should haves) and worry are associated with virtually every stressor. Guilt is an expression of self-anger; worry, a manifestation of fear. Distract from the present moment, therefore unable to conquer stress and attain inner peace. Leo Buscaglia – Lessons of self-love self-esteem and altruism Buscaglia believes that love is a response to a learned group of stimuli and behaviors; it is not innate, but taught. Frankl believed that for life to be complete there must be suffering, but that there must also be a search for the meaning of the suffering to resolve the issues of emotional stress. Erroneous zones Emotional zones that waste energy Left-over guilt - Self-imposed guilt “The art of worrying” Buscaglia believes there are many degrees of love, from joy to grace, but there is only one love that leads to the positive growth process of self-discovery. Chronic stress and low self-esteem Self-love and the X-factor Self-love and self-acceptance

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

A Tibetan Perspective on the Mind and Stress The mind is comprised of the “self” (false self, ego driven self) and the “Self” (the true self or the aspect of the Higher Self). The goal is not to allow the “self” to overpower the “Self.” Stress is a consequence of desires with attachments Let go of attachments and inner peace can be realized.