Neuro-Link - Coping with change, managing stress ......© 2016 Neuro-Link Global. All Right Reserved. 720-490-8151 - [email protected] 3 1. CHANGE, STRESS & WELLNESS .....6 1.1

© 2016 Neuro-Link Global. All Right Reserved. 720-490-8151

www.neurolink.company - [email protected] 2

Copyright

© 2002 by Neuro-Link

All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form

or by any means for any purpose, including resale or instructional purposes, without the prior permission of the publisher.

1996 First edition 1999 Second edition

2000 Third edition 2002 Fourth edition 2005 Fifth edition 2008 Sixth edition

2011 Seventh edition

2015 Eighth edition

2016 Ninth edition

NEURO-LINK INQUIRIES:

Colorado, 80110

Telephone: 720-490-8151

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.neurolink.company

http://www.neurolink.company/

mailto:[email protected]




1. CHANGE, STRESS & WELLNESS ................................................................................. 6

1.1 RELEVANCE OF COPING SKILLS ........................................................... 7

1.2. RELEVANCE OF A BALANCED LIFE STYLE ............................................ 9

1.3. RELEVANCE OF PURPOSE ...................................................................... 9

2. STRESS .......................................................................................................... 13

2.1. HOW THE BRAIN PROCESS INFORMATION ..................................... 13

2.2. ELECTRO-CHEMICAL FUNCTIONING ................................................ 14

2.3. STRESS ................................................................................................ 15

2.3.1. WHAT IS STRESS? ........................................................................ 15

2.3.2 THE BRAIN UNDER STRESS .......................................................... 17

2.3.3. WHAT IS A STRESSOR? ................................................................ 19

2.3.4. TYPES OF STRESS? ...................................................................... 20

2.3.5. SYMPTOMS OF STRESS ............................................................... 21

2.3.3. BRAIN STATES ............................................................................... 24

2.3.6 POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE STRESS .................................................. 26

3. HOW THE BRAIN PSYCHOLOGICALLY RESPONDS TO CHANGE .............................................. 29

3.1. PSYCHOLOGICAL CYCLE OF CHANGE ................................................. 29

ASSIGNMENT .............................................................................................. 32

4. WELLNESS ..................................................................................................... 36

4.1. WELLNESS APPROACH .......................................................................... 36

4.2. PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY (PNI) ................................................... 40

4.3. THREE WELLNESS STEREO TYPES ..................................................... 48

RECOMMENDED READING ............................................................................... 58





“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”

- Hans Seley





Do you feel that habitual negativity is dominating your thoughts? Are you stressed out?

Does it feel as if things are getting too much for you? Are you experiencing feelings of burnout?

Research suggests that 80% or more of all sicknesses paid for by medical aids are stress related. Stress is directly or indirectly linked to hypertension, heart diseases, diabetes, peptic ulcer diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, etc. People with high levels of stress are:

more likely to catch colds and flu, which account for 40% o f all absenteeism.

more than twice as likely to be absent from work for more than five days a year.

As global competition becomes tougher, those who survive and those who excel will be separated by different elements, one of which will be the wellness of their

employees.

Vice-President – American Rail Road Company





Our world is rapidly changing. Information is more than doubling every two years. One edition of the New York Times contains more information than people in the eighteenth century were exposed to in their lifetime. Today the average learner has to work through five times greater volumes of information than twenty years ago. Life is turbulent. It is permanent white water everywhere!

The nature of our day to day work has changed from our hands to our heads. We have become knowledge workers. The only way that we can control knowledge is with our brain. This is why this millennium was introduced as the Millennium of the Mind. We have no option but to become mentally literate, if we want to prosper in the turbulence of this world. This means that we all need to have an understanding of the behaviors of the brain; especially learning, thinking, creativity, memory and attitudes.

If you want to survive and prosper in the turbulence of a constantly changing world, you

need to have sufficient mental skills, coping skills, live a balanced life style and be on-purpose.

Your challenge today is to work faster and smarter, rather than harder and longer. In

order to achieve this, the point of departure is utilizing all regions and faculties of the brain to its maximum. The only way that people and organizations will maintain their competitive advantage in this rapidly changing world is if they can out-think, out-learn, out-create and out-perform their competition. Thinking, learning and creativity are some of the main functions of the brain. They involve cognitive ability. This makes brain power the number one determining factor for success in this Millennium, placing people and the brain in the center of business and development. People are born with potential, not with skills. It is therefore essential that we realize that we have to change our potential into competence through constantly acquiring new mental skills. Your brain has unlimited potential, but if you do not acquire appropriate skills to use your brain more effectively, you will not be able to produce better results than others.

“It is commonly known that Formula One racing drivers in a

battered old car will beat an untrained driver in a Formula One

car.” -Tony Buzan

Eventually it is all about obtaining skills. You have a Formula

One brain anyway!





Due to technological advances, great challenges are imposing themselves on society, giving rise to very high levels of devitalizing stress, which have taken their toll on people’s health in general. If man wants to survive in this challenging world, we need to control the forces and circumstances that govern our lives.

“Whilst the futile process of trying to maintain a tight hold on our world has done wonders for the sale of tranquilizers, anti-depressants and drugs to combat chronic stress-related illnesses like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and cancer, it has stunted our ability to perceive the environment as it really is, take control and fulfill our inherent need to actualize and live to our fullest potential”, says Dr. Ian Weinberg, practicing neurosurgeon in Johannesburg, South Africa and one of the leading scholars in the field of Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI).

The greatest killer today is not heart disease, cancer or alcohol. It is Inner Kill – the art of dying without knowing it. Inner Kill is when we are not coping with change, managing stress effectively and maintaining mental wellbeing. It means we feel we are not controlling our world any more, it is now controlling us. We are just reacting to life, change and situations, instead of us pro-actively taking charge of our lives despite the changes that takes place in our lives and what happens to us.





People, who prosper in the turbulence that this world brings about, are those who see these changes as opportunities to grow and make more smart choices:

They risk and learn new skills

They choose to stay in control of their lives despite what happens to them

They do not give power over their lives away to people, things or circumstances through blame

They take full responsibility for their own lives

They take charge

* Tick the blocks relevant to you.

I have learned which characteristics to develop to cope with change better.

I have learned strategies to become more resilient.

I have learned skills to stay in control of my life, regardless of what happens to me.

I know how to develop support systems to cope with change more efficiently.

I know how to maintain good relationships with all people to cope with stress better.

I supplement daily with the correct supplements.

I have learned how laughter and humor can help me maintain wellbeing.

I have learned skills to re-pattern my mind for positivity.

I know how to change my lifestyle to cope with change and manage stress better.

I have learned how to use exercise as a powerful tool to cope with change, manage

stress and maintain wellness.

*Now will be a good time to develop the items that you could not tick





The enormity of psycho-social, economic and political transformation which has occurred over the last two decades, in conjunction with the realization that we can neither stem nor control

this tide of momentous change, is a factor that has left us feeling out of control, anxious and confused. This leads to people thinking they have to work harder and longer, rather than faster and smarter. They extend their working hours even further, forcing themselves and their lives out of balance.

Now more than ever, you have to maintain balance in

your life if you want to stay in control of a world that is

rapidly changing. People have to live a balanced lifestyle

if they want to perform well and maintain physical,

spiritual and mental wellness. A balanced lifestyle implies

sufficient resting, working and having sufficient time for exercise and spiritual, social, family

and recreational pursuits. With most people, this is unfortunately not the case. They have

become victims of burnout, a condition that manifests in emotional and physical

consequences that are attributable to long-term exposure to stress.

The challenge is for a person to work faster and smarter rather than longer and harder if

they want to get everything done that they are responsible for at work. To work faster and

smarter, we have to utilize all hemispheres, systems and lobes of the brain as one

functional unit. This is why it is the Millennium of the Mind and the Century of the

Brain.

We are in the midst of a seemingly chaotic and meaningless world. We have shifted work

from our hands to our heads. People are more and more using their brains than their

hands to do their work. Information is exploding. Knowledge is growing more and more

which leads to us understanding less and less of our world in general. More information

will not be the answer to cope and prosper in our world…to be an on-purpose person is.

That is why society is speeding towards the Age of Purpose.

It is essential for all people in a turbulent world to be on-purpose. To be on-purpose is

what anchors you during periods of change. Purpose is your spiritual DNA. It is your

reason for existence.

Purpose will guide you through the storms of life towards your destination. When we are

unsure of our purpose in life, the storms of life will blow us in any direction.

WORK

REST

8 Hours

PERSONAL





Do you love what you’re doing?

Do you find it easy to go to work most days?

Do work and leisure time sometimes seem the same?

Do you feel things are all right in your world?

At times when you feel frustrated or irritated with a particular aspect of your job, do

you maintain a deep feeling that what you’re doing is still “right”?

Do you feel there’s nothing else you’d rather be doing?

Do you feel at peace in your life?

Do you trust that things will work out for you?

Do you have a positive attitude most days?

Does your work energize you?

Do you know that the average person is not willing to spend $20.00 on the development of

their brain in a 10 year period? Are you equipped with the necessary skills to out-think,

out-learn and out-create the competition?

Everything we do needs to be aligned with how the brain naturally prefers to function if we

want to work smarter. Increased performance will start with people having access to all

areas of their brain and utilizing the functions of these parts of the brain effectively. To

achieve this, one should have a basic understanding of the brain and how it works.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________



© 2016 Neuro-Link Global. All Right Reserved.

720-490-8151 www.neurolink.company - [email protected]

11

GROUP EXERCISE: PERSONAL CHANGE

What is happening in your personal environment? Please list the changes that you have lately experienced.

ELEMENTS CHANGE

FROM

CHANGE TO THOUGHTS FEELINGS ACTIONS





12

GROUP EXERCISE: PROFESSIONAL CHANGE

What is happening in your world of work? Please list the changes that you have lately experienced personally.

ELEMENTS CHANGE

FROM

CHANGE TO THOUGHTS FEELINGS ACTIONS

Organizational

structure

Job security

Leadership/Managers

Staff numbers

Reward and

recognition

Skills(competencies) required

Careers/“Ladders”

Outsourcing

Organizational culture





13

The left brain controls the right side of the body and vice versa. People absorb information through constantly taking in sensory data as the different nerves send visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile and gustatory messages to the brain. More information is actively processed through the dominant senses, while the non-dominant senses follow in a more passive manner. This sensory dominance pattern will have a direct impact on how people process information and perform.

All incoming sensory information is received in the back of the brain as an “impress”. The information is then processed to the front part of the brain to be “expressed”. The left brain decodes information and processes impulses and experiences into words and assists in developing understanding.

The right brain encodes information and makes a map or concrete picture of the words. The words and pictures are then arranged into a brain pattern, also called a neuron pathway. This brain pattern or neuron pathway is then called a perception or attitude.





14

The brain functions electro-chemically. Electrical impulses are transmitted from one neuron to another. Between the synoptic buttons that transmit electrical messages are chemicals that will either inhibit or block, or facilitate and transmit electrical impulses.

Stress, negative thinking, pessimism and bad feelings cause people to secrete inhibiting chemicals like morphine and cortisol, which does not only block or inhibit electro-chemical transmission but also weakens the immune system. Relaxation, positive thinking, optimism and good feelings cause people to secrete facilitating chemicals like endorphins and serotonin, which facilitates electro-chemical transmission and also strengthen immune function.





15

Stress is anything tha t causes us to feel we are losing control. Change and a lack of understanding the environment may cause stress. It includes anxiety and fear. Anxiety deals with imagined or unreal dangers. Fear deals with actual or threatened dangers. Because stress includes both fear and anxiety, stress may be defined as the feeling that results from the desire to terminate, escape from, or avoid a real or imagined, current or imminent, negative event. What is burnout? The result of unrelieved stress. Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion and cynicism over a long period of time.





16

ARE YOU UNDER STRESS?

1. Is your concentration span shorter than it used to be? YES NO

2. Does your memory appear to be growing worse? YES NO

4. Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed, even though nothing is really wrong? YES NO

5. Do you lose your temper more often than you used to? YES NO

6. Are you feeling more anxious than you used to? YES NO

7. Is making decisions becoming more of an effort? YES NO

8. Do you often feel emotionally drained? YES NO

9. Do you have a tendency to move on to something new before completing the

current task?

YES NO

10. Have you noticed yourself becoming more restless lately? YES NO

12. Do you find it hard to generate enthusiasm? YES NO

13. Do you suffer from insomnia (sleeplessness)? YES NO

14. Once asleep, do you wake-up during the night or do you have bad dreams? YES NO

15. Do you always feel tired or lethargic, as though everything is just too much

trouble?

YES NO

16. Do you suffer from muscular pains, particularly in your back and neck? YES NO

18. Do you smoke, eat or drink more than you used to? YES NO

20. Do you have trouble breathing deeply? YES NO

21. Have you lost your appetite, or do you have a craving for sweet foods? YES NO

22. Do you suffer from occasional nervous tics? YES NO

23. Are you prone to dark, pessimistic thoughts that are difficult to shake off? YES NO

24. Have you lost interest in sex? YES NO

TOTAL





17

If you answered “yes” to six or more of these questions, you are being adversely affected

by stress. Persistence of more than 5 of the above symptoms for a two week period is

cause for concern and indicates the need for an adjustment in lifestyle. Persistence of 5 or

more symptoms for more than a month indicates an urgent need to contact a helping

professional.

While it is generally acknowledged that stress profoundly influences the way in which we think and behave, few people understand why this is so. Recent research shows that the reason for our changed thinking and behavior under stress is that stress causes parts of the brain to “switch off”.

Human beings are uniquely designed to be either bilaterally integrated (two-sided) or homolaterality specialized (one-sided). Our species has evolved to be two-sided for most movement skills. Our two-sidedness (for vision, hearing, hand-eye coordination and whole body movement) allows us to compensate with one side when the other side is lost or injured. During stress or times of new learning the non-dominant brain tends to radically decrease its function, leaving the dominant brain to carry on primary functioning. If we rely too much on one side alone, instead of two sides together, we place unnecessary and stressful demands upon our whole system. We call this the “switched-off” state.

The right brain hemisphere controls the left side of the body and the left eye and ear. Likewise, the left brain hemisphere controls the right side of the body and the right

eye and ear. The nerves to the muscles and sensory organs cross over from the controlling brain hemisphere. When one side of the brain is in control, the other side either cooperates and coordinates its movements with the controlling hemisphere, or it may “switch off” and block integration.





18

If over indulgent in activities that cause “switching-off” to occur before a person has developed the visual skills necessary to shift back to the three-dimensional vision of everyday living, or if they lull him/her into ignoring his/her depth perception skills, chronic stress may result. Even under such stress, learning continues. Once this “switched-off” pattern is learned, it becomes difficult to “unlearn.” Then the person becomes stuck in a mode of one-sided response.

The body may experience a number of situations as stressful – a change in attitude, danger, competition or other threatening situations such as the inability to meet a deadline or a sales target, for example. Whatever the perceived threat, the body reacts by secreting adrenaline, cortisol and morphine’s (endo-morphines). These primarily increase the body’s chances of survival, as they prepare the body for fight or flight (adrenaline causes more blood to flow to the muscles as a result of an increased heartbeat), as well as protect the body against injury. Morphine keeps the body from feeling pain. Recently, it was determined that these chemicals also cause parts of the brain to “switch off”. This switching off makes certain areas of the brain inaccessible, and because these areas are inaccessible, one does not have access to the functions performed by these areas. One example of this involves lateral switching off. Every person has two brain hemispheres, of which one is genetically dominant. Stress causes the non-dominant brain hemisphere to become more limited or inaccessible. As a result, a left-brained person may have limited access to right-brain functions such as insight, creativity, and strategic thinking. Research also indicates that the majority of people who raise to (stressful) management positions tend to be more left brain dominant, which explains why the business world has had to emphasize training of executives in creativity during recent years. The right-brained person during stress, on the other hand, tends to switch off their non-dominant left brain hemisphere during stress. Consequently, this person may have little or limited access to left-brain functions such as an awareness of time, analysis, logical thoughts, and focus on details. During stress this person usually has wonderfully creative ideas, but may experience difficulty to plan, implement, or function in a disciplined, constructive way; or even expressing thoughts. Another interesting type of “switching off” concerns the neo-cortex, or thinking part of the brain. Under stress this part of the brain – the part managers rely on most – “switches off.” As a result, rational thought functions such as analysis and synthesis become inaccessible. This manager is then forced to rely on the two remaining brain systems. If he relies on the Limbic system he is bound to make emotional decisions or have emotional outbursts, as this part of the brain deals with emotional functions.

Even more fatal, the more stressed manager will rely on his Reptilian brain system, which

handles the fight and flight response. This could mean anything from verbal abuse or

physical aggression, to jumping out of a hotel window from the tenth story.





19

Any real or imagined demand which causes you to adapt, adjust or change.

* Traffic * Incorrect colors

* Noise * Lack of visual stimulations

* Overcrowding * Lack of space

* *

Excessive temperatures Bad lighting in work areas

* *

Lack of water Unnatural textures

* Bad odors at work areas * Incorrect ergonomics

* Lack of air circulation

* Work deadlines * Negative relationships * Time pressures * Lack of empathy * Job ambiguity * Incorrect communication * Work overload * Rationalization * Boredom / inactivity * Multi-cultural work force * Promotions * Dealing with angry/ * Giving/receiving

negative aggressive people

Feedback

* Excessive caffeine or nicotine * Lack of space * Alcohol * Sugar * Pollution * Preservatives * Lack of movement * Electromagnetic fields * Lack of touch

* Illness (self or family) * Fatigue * Friction with others * Prolonged worry * Negative organization culture * Excessive movement * Changing roles * Financial problems * Feelings of burnout





20

Physical or emotional trauma, lack of water or nourishing foods, preservatives, medical problems and excessive exposure to environmental pollutants are among other causes of “switching-off”.

Excessive sitting, which interferes with the natural use of back and leg muscles, is another modern challenge to integration. Both activity and relaxation are natural states for muscles. When we cannot access either activity or relaxation, stress is the result.

* Self-imposed demands

* Personal performance expectations (e.g. “Shouldn’t”, Must’s”, “Ought To’s”) * Personal myths and incorrect beliefs * Habitual negativity

Neurological stress is any physical, mental or environmental stressor that inhibits, blocks or limits the transmission of electro-chemical impulses in the brain, nervous system and body. Neurological stress occurs when the neurological system (brain and nervous system) is overloaded, causing an electrical imbalance in the neurons, which depolarizes the neurological system. The flow of electrical impulses is impaired, limiting the person’s information processing ability.

Several factors – among others also the normal stress factors in everyday life – cause neurological stress, or overloading of the neurological system. The impact of neurological stress influences information processing abilities in a very fundamental way, because it inhibits electrical impulses and causes “switching-off” of the genetically non-dominant brain hemisphere. A person therefore may think that he/she is relaxed, but their neurological system may be under stress.

Preservatives, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, stress, habitual negativity, electro-magnetic fields, pollution etc. cause the neurological system to depolarize and become imbalanced. Water, oxygen, brain foods, positivity and relaxation contribute to neurons polarizing, thereby restoring electrical balance, and increasing a person’s information processing abilities. The above implies that a person may be drinking and socializing,

thinking that he is relaxing, where in fact his neurological system (brain and nervous system) actually may be highly depolarized and under stress.





21

Physical stress is stress that the human body literally can feel. It often causes pain of muscles and organs, or physical discomfort e.g. headaches, ulcers, sleeplessness.

Psychological stress is mental stress that people experience on an emotional or cognitive level e.g. depression, habitual negativity, lack of concentration, low creativity, memory deterioration.

Interpersonal stress is the psycho-social stress that arises from relationships and inadequate or inappropriate social interactions with others (i.e. aggression/road rage.)

Different types of stress influence a person’s body as well as his / her emotional wellbeing, and therefore stress symptoms include physiological, psychological and interpersonal reactions to stressors. The effects of stress on an individual thus occur on 5 different levels. Here are some of the symptoms to be detected within those levels: Circle those applicable to you that you experience:

• Lower back pains

• Tenseness in shoulders

• Excessive perspiration

• Develop rash or hives

• Dry mouth and throat

• An increase or decrease in appetite

• Sleeplessness or difficulty to get up in the morning

• Heart disease

• Hypertension

• Ulcers / stomach problems

• Dramatic weight gain or loss

• Continuous neck and back pains

• Excessive perspiration not linked to exercise

• Stuttering

• Skin irritations

• Increased smoking or drinking

• Headaches or migraines

• Muscle spasms

• Stiff neck




720-490-8151 www.neurolink.comapny - [email protected]

22

Emotional level: • Constant fatigue or lethargy

• Depression

• Irritability

• Anxiety

• Apathy

• Dissatisfaction

• Habitual negativity

• Irrational and / or emotional outbursts

Cognitive level: • Highly disorganized

• Easily startled by noise

• In-attentiveness

• Lack of concentration

• Forgetfulness

• Inability to make decisions or accept responsibility

• Low frustration threshold

• Low creativity

• Inability to solve problems

• Can’t get going in the morning

• Continuous worrying about small matters

• Decreased sense of humor

• Overly talkative

Social and interpersonal level: • Can’t enjoy physical affection

• Picking on other people’s weaknesses

• Social withdrawal

• Aggression

• Decreased sensitivity to individual differences and others’ needs

• Losing interest in what others have to say

• Jealousy

http://www.neurolink.comapny/




23

Behavioral level: • Can’t stop working

• Thinking about the same thing over and over

• Absenteeism

• Accident proneness

• Drug abuse

• Repeating same mistakes On a percentage basis, identify on which level stress affects you most: ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

On a percentage basis, identify on which level stress affects you most:

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Other stressors that inhibit learning are developmental stressors like a lack of sensory

stimulation, lack of movement, lack of touch, lack of interactive creative play and

communication and an unbalanced or incomplete RAS (Reticular Activation System)

activation. These above signs are indicative of stress overload only if they reflect a

change in normal functioning and if they persist for a period of time.

Persistence of more than 3 symptoms for a two week period is cause for concern

and indicates the need for an adjustment in lifestyle. Persistence of 3 or more

symptoms for more than a month indicates an urgent need to contact a helping

professional.





24

Creative intelligence, whole brain utilization and relaxation depend on different learning states. There are times when an active state is necessary and other times when we benefit from different states, such as relaxed alertness. As shown in the brain wave rhythms chart, the electrical activity of the brain, or the rate of neuron firing, creates rhythmic brain-wave pulses that produce these characteristic states. Slow neuron firing creates brain-wave pulses that are found in deep, dreamless sleep: the Delta cycles. The Theta pulse is faster than the delta and is generally accepted as an unconscious sleep state but can be associated with deep meditation and reverie and is being researched in connection with deep creative dreaming and thought. Alpha brain waves are faster than Theta and are produced when we relax, laugh,

daydream, and use our imagination. We often experience this highly suggestible state

of consciousness moments before falling asleep and just as we are waking.

Accelerated learning techniques have shown this state especially important in thinking, learning and processing of information. The fastest brain rhythm, known as the Beta state, occurs when neuron firing and thoughts are highly active. This state of the conscious mind is predominant when we are busy working, talking, moving, and being active.

When the left- and right-brain hemispheres are producing similar brainwave patterns, a rhythmic synchronization occurs. This hemispheric integration develops a coordination of rhythms that sets the stage for relaxation, listening and learning. Music, movement, and art are especially valuable as integrating tools in synchronization.

* Alpha state is for learning, thinking and concentration. * Beta state is for doing, exercise, practicing, reacting and implementing.





25





26

It is important to understand that stress is not altogether negative. A certain amount of stress or stimulation is essential to our health and performance. Without the drive which stress provides, human beings will achieve nothing.

Reference is often made to the “stress curve”, which is an attempt to explain the difference between positive (or constructive) and negative (or destructive) stress. Functioning in the positive part of the stress curve results in vitality, enthusiasm, optimism, mental alertness and optimal personal relationships.

Functioning in the negative part of the stress curve, on the other hand, results in fatigue, irritability, and lack of concentration, depression, pessimism, an inability to communicate and low creativity.

Optimal levels of stress (often referred to as ‘eustress’ or “the zone”) are obtained when a person functions at his/her maximum level of optimal performance thinking on their feet, reacting and absorbing simultaneously. Negative stress (often referred to as ‘distress) begins when stress continues to increase to such an extent that they switch off, lose, control and their performance starts to decrease.

A host of stressors encountered during the day can increase the amount of stress experienced. If a person is not aware of this and does not recognize signs of increasing stress, then he/she can progressively find him/herself functioning in the negative part of the stress curve, losing control.

It is important to realize that every person has a point beyond which stress is no longer a resource and becomes destructive. Each person, however, has a different threshold for coping with stress, which often makes it difficult to predict exactly when a person will reach his/her “breaking point” – a point at which the person will “switch off” and lose the ability to cope with the amount of stress experienced. *Please remember that the stress curve is only applicable in Beta wave condition where there is an emphasis on reacting and doing.





27

1. Endocrine system increases production of adrenaline and other stress hormones. 2. Stored sugar and fats flow into the bloodstream to provide fuel for quick energy. 3. Respiration rate increases, providing more oxygen. 4. Heart beats faster and blood pressure shoots up to supply blood to large muscles. 5. Blood clotting mechanisms are activated in anticipation of injury. 6. Muscles tense in preparation for strenuous action. 7. Digestion stops so that blood may be diverted to muscles and brain. 8. Perspiration and saliva increase. 9. Pupils dilate allowing more light to enter.

Under negative or continued stress, the sympathetic nervous system is activated and adrenaline is released from the neurons and from the adrenal cortex preparing you to run or fight. Blood goes away from the brain to the muscles, eyes dilate and

fixate, and peripheral vision predominates. The bronchial tubes dilate so you will have the air you need to run and the heart rate increases. Adrenaline shuts down everything unnecessary for survival – like thinking (the outer, rational brain shuts down and the deeper brain predominate). Adrenaline takes a while to break down, as it has to be detoxified through the liver. The increase in adrenaline decreases the polarity on the membrane of the cell. Children or adults who are very jumpy, for example, are exhibiting an adrenaline high. Chronic excessive adrenaline lowers levels of the hormone dopamine, creating hyperactivity. As the emergency increases, the body protects you by introducing morphine, so you will not feel any pain if injured. This morphine creates a “spaced out” feeling.

Continuous “bad feelings” cause people to experience “dis-ease.”

Continuous dis-ease leads to Disease!





28

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________





29

Reactions to any form of change depend on the interplay between emotional and cognitive processes. Because of this complex interplay, every individual will react differently to change.

Change tends to be generally perceived in two ways – positively and/or negatively. When change is seen as offering new opportunities or new possibilities, or is seen as bringing about rejuvenation, progress, innovation or growth, then it is perceived positively. But when change is seen as bringing instability, upheaval, unpredictability or threatening, then it is perceived negatively. Translating this to change in the workplace, we can therefore expect employees to react to any form of workplace change either negatively, positively or both. Ironically growth tends to result from having been exposed to some form of change – in this sense change comes with a positive effect. Equally true is the fact that, no matter how good change might be, it will always result in some form of stress. The stress occurs when change shifts people’s physical and psychological equilibrium causing the body to prepare for a fight or flight response. It is a combination of three factors that will influence how individuals cope with change in the workplace. These factors include the nature of change, individuals’ psychological make-up and the manner in which management handles change. Generally individuals go through the following stages during the process of change:

Apprehension → denial → anger → resentment → depression → cognitive dissonance → compliance → a c c e p t a n c e → internalization. As can be seen f rom these stages, individuals’ attitudes towards change evolve as they become familiar with the change. Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying, identified almost similar stages along The Recovery Trough route. These are indicated in the diagram below.





30

Early change intervention programs can lead to a speedy progression through these stages or can even result in some stages being skipped in the process of dealing with change. Sequential change management programs should initially be targeted at overcoming the initial apprehension, denial anger and resentment associated with change, to programs that promote compliance, acceptance and internalization of the change.

The Sigmoid Curve is the S-shaped curve which has intrigued people since time began. The Sigmoid Curve sums up the story of life itself. We start slowly, experimentally and falteringly, we wax and then we wane. It is the story of the British Empire – and of the Russian Empire and of all empires always. It is the story of a product’s life-cycle and of many a corporation’s rise and fall. It even describes the course of love and of relationships. If that were all, it would be a depressing image, with nothing to discuss except to decide where precisely on the curve one is now, and what units of time should go on the scale at the bottom. Those units of time are also getting depressingly small. They used to be decades, perhaps even generations. Now they are years, sometimes months. The accelerating pace of change shrinks every Sigmoid Curve.





31

Luckily, there is life beyond the curve. The secret of constant growth is to start a new Sigmoid Curve before the first one peters out. The right place to start the second curve is at point A, where there is time, as well as the resources and the energy, to get the new curve through its initial explorations and floundering before the first curve begins to dip downwards.





32

That would seem obvious; were it not for the fact that at point A all the messages coming through to the individual or the institution are that everything is going fine, that it would be folly to change when the current recipes are working well. All that we know of change tells us that the real energy for change only comes when you are looking disaster in the face (Wake-Up-Call) at point B.

When you and I are self-directing our own changes, the kind of emotional path to be followed is seen in the figure below

1. What is neurological stress?

2. What is physical stress?





33

3. What is psychological stress?

4. What is interpersonal stress?

5. On which levels do “switching off” take place?

6. Define eustress.





34

7. Give one single key word that describes each brain state:

Delta – d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ p

Theta – c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ d _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Alpha – I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and t _ _ _ _ _ _ g

Beta – d _ _ g and I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

8. Key notes to remember about stress:

9. Ideas and applications about stress:





35

Dear ________________________________

It has come to management’s attention that due to the peak production time currently

being experienced in our company, your production team functions under a lot of stress,

resulting in an increase in absenteeism.

As the leader of your section you are required to facilitate your team in the area of stress

management by doing the following:

1. Describe stress to your team and how it impacts their personal life and work

situation.

2. Analyze the causes of stress in their personal life and their work situation.

3. Advise your team about lifestyle changes for improved stress management.

4. Identify psychodynamic factors which impact their lifestyle and performance.

5. Perform lifestyle screening and assessments, interpret and advise accordingly.

6. Develop a holistic intervention program based on the needs and goals of each

participant in the team consisting of at least 11 strategies to manage stress in their

personal life and work situation.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________





36

Mental wellness is the capacity to perform well (be productive) to love and have friends

and to enjoy life with relative freedom from internal stress without causing stress to

others. Mental health includes maintaining balance in all aspects of your life including

the capacity to cope with all of life’s joys and sorrows

.

Everyone has a combination of emotions, attitudes and behaviors that create a unique

personality. You have considerable control over the items that make up your personality.





37

Below is a “pre-test” that will help you identify several key issues related to mental or

emotional health. Circle the answer that best describes you. Please be as honest as

possible.

1. I am basically a pessimistic person

True False

2. I frequently wish I were somebody else or had another

person’s qualities

True False

3. I find myself frequently angry at people

True False

4. I tend to blame others for my problems

True False

5. I often assume blame for other people’s problems

True False

6. I find it difficult to encourage and support the successes of

others

True False

7. It is hard for me to accept encouragement and support from

friends or family

True False

8. I do not have many friends

True False

9. I worry constantly about things I cannot change

True False

10. I am frightened about things others do not seem to be

concerned about

True False

If you circled true on five or more statements, now is a good time to review your

approach to life. This manual can help you do that!





38

Mental health is to a large extent related to how well you manage your emotions. This includes both feeling good about yourself and feeling good about interactions with your family, friends, colleagues and co-workers. The ability to experience and express emotions is uniquely human. Our emotional make-up is that part of us that determines which experience is great joy or profound sorrow. Emotional adjustment also contributes to maintaining a level of evenness through the ups and downs of life without the demands of experiencing continual extreme highs and / or lows. Emotions also warn us of danger and give us a way to express and receive love and affection as well as anger and sorrow.

Emotional maturity is vital for maintaining mental wellness!

X Check those attributes that you feel are applicable to you.

I fully experience the entire range of human emotions.

I maintain satisfying relationships with others.

I see life as a learning experience and enjoy it.

I am free from fears that restrict my risk-taking abilities.

I accept unchangeable realities and make the most of it.

I see myself realistically.

I am relatively free from prejudice and accept the uniqueness of others.

I take full responsibility for myself, I do not blame others.

I am able to accept emotional support from others, as well as

appropriately express feelings that give support to others.

I can rebound from life’s crisises without prolonged feelings of stress,

grief or guilt.

• If you were able to check five or more items, you are on your way to emotional

security!





39

When we experience negative reactions to stress, the immune system of the body is

suppressed. Devitalising stress which is characterized by habitual negativity, leads to an

all prevailing sense of despondency and purposelessness which most certainly sets the

stage for illnesses like cancer, heart disease, strokes and depression.

Every century has, and always will have, its share of life threatening illnesses, which

means that there will be a consistent demand for medicinal lotions and potions. If we do

not teach people how to realign their beliefs of the past with the truths of the present,

they will never be able to activate their own healing and wellness mechanisms. “We

should view health and wellbeing as a three legged stool,” says Dr. Herbert Benson, from

Harvard Medical School. The first leg is pharmaceuticals, the second leg is surgery and

the third leg is self-care. Most of medicine as practiced today involves the first two legs.

Yet between 70 and 90 percent of doctor visits are in the mind / body stress related

realm that is poorly served by medication or surgery. We should realize that most of the

responsibility for healing is still stay our responsibility. Most people however, do not take

that responsibility because they are not sure what to do. Fortunately there is a powerful

tool for activating the body’s healing and wellness mechanisms. Exciting work is being

done in the health sciences focussing on the impact of the mind on the body. In fact, an

entirely new area of medical research has developed in the past two decades with the

unwieldy name of Psycho Neuro Immunology, in short PNI.





40

PNI is the discipline that studies the link between emotions, the nervous system and

immune function. It consists of studies that demonstrate how your thoughts, moods,

emotions and belief systems have a fundamental impact on some of your body’s basic

health and healing mechanisms. PNI has shown that positive and negative mind-states

do in fact result in chemical reactions in the body, which can alternatively compromise or

enhance immune function.

Its application assists people to shift paradigms and deal proactively with stress and

change. PNI can most certainly increase the physical and mental performance required

for the development of innovative strategic thinking, while fostering harmonious

interpersonal relationships in all spheres of life.

Research has found that:

* the brain can emit chemicals under stress that depress immune function, causing

stress to lead to disease

* cells of the immune system can produce the same hormones as the brain

* immune-system cells have the same receptors as brain cells, sending messages

to the brain

* emotional states affect the immune level

* high joy levels increase survival time of breast cancer patients

* more assertive people have higher immune levels

* AIDS patients have higher immune levels if they were strong-willed

* placebo treatment had the same pain reducing affect as eight milligrams of

morphine

* 85% of all human illnesses can be addressed by the immune system

* 80% of patients with hypertension are able to reduce their blood pressure or drug

dosage by doing activities such as meditation and light aerobic exercise

* patients who don’t deny the diagnosis, but defy the verdict seem to do better than

others

* Positive and negative states of mind do in fact create chemical reactions in the

body, which can enhance or alternatively compromise immune function.





41

Mankind may be on the brink of a worldwide crisis of immunity if the current trends on

immune related disease continue. Consider these facts:

• By the year 2017 your chance of getting cancer is predicted to be greater than

50 percent.

• Deaths from infectious diseases have doubled in the last decade.

• Deaths from infectious diseases between the ages of 25 and 44 are up six-fold.

• A million people die each year from food poisoning.

• 50,000 tons of antibiotics are used each year throughout the world on humans,

animals or plants.

• One in three people suffer from allergies.

• We suffer, on average, three colds or bouts of flu a year.

• Smoke (tobacco and other – i.e. chimneys, incinerators, etc.)

• Stress

• Pollution (busy roads, airplane flight paths, industry, etc.)

• Pesticides

• Radiation

• Carcinogenic chemicals (industrial or domestic)

• Drugs (legal, illegal, medical); these all require medical supervision for reduction

or elimination – do not try it alone

• Food additives (especially colors and flavors)

• Incorrect balance of food (i.e.. too much salt, fat or sugar)

• Accidents

• Obesity or starvation

• Poor mineral balance

• Poor vitamin balance

• Inappropriate exercise

• Genetic defects

• Infections (from bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, worms, etc.)

• Negative attitude to life

• Unhappiness





42

A. Your immune system determines how fast you age.

B. Your immune system fights off the viruses, bacteria and other organisms which attack

you and cause illness; from the common ones that cause colds and thrush, to the

rarer but often deadly ones like Meningitis, Legionnaire’s Disease and AIDS.

C. Your immune system has the power to destroy cancer cells as they are formed.

D. Your immune system empties your body’s dustbin every day, getting rid of dead cells,

dead invaders and toxic chemicals.

E. Your immune system offers protection from radiation and chemical pollutants.

F. Left to deteriorate, you immune system could lose control and cause allergy problems

or auto-immune diseases like arthritis.

G. With a struggling immune system, you are ill more often, more seriously, and longer.

H. With a strong immune system, you are almost invincible and should be able to lead a

long, healthy and active life.





43

Hair Texture, dry or greasy, color, lack of growth, losing hair?

Head Dull ache, pain in movement, flushing or burning sensations,

feelings of floating, fogginess, dizziness?

Eyes Yellowed whites, bloodshot, itchy, stinging, dull not sparkling, pain

on movement from side to side, watery, change in vision,

tiredness?

Ears Itchy, painful, noises inside, sounds appearing far away while own

voice is loud, flaking skin?

Nose Running, itching, sore, congested, difficulty breathing, loss of smell,

sneezing?

Mouth Bad taste, bad breath, coated tongue, ulcers, loss of taste,

bleeding gums, bad teeth, sore tongue, difficulty chewing, change

in quantity of saliva?

Neck Stiffness or pain on movement?

Throat Sore, painful to swallow, swollen glands?

Digestive

tract

Indigestion, gas, burning sensations, bloated, pain, constipation,

diarrhoea?

Muscles Weakened, painful, numb, tingling, flabby, tense, easily injured?

Joints Stiffness, weakness, tremors, swelling, pain?

Skin Spots, rashes, color change, dry flaky, blotchy, new or altered

moles or body hair, dull, tight, flabby, bloated, body odor?

Nails Ridged, brittle, white spots, blue-tinged, split?

Energy

levels

Higher, lower, intermittent, erratic, hyperactive, dependent on food,

coffee or other stimulant intake?

Sleep Poor, broken, heavy, restless, excessive sweating, altered

dreaming?

Mental

state

Poor concentration, poor memory, lack of interest, forgetfulness?

Hunger Ravenously hungry, off food, food cravings?

Mood Depressed, sad, up and down, irritable, frustrated, despairing?

My conclusion: __________________________________________________





44

How strong is your immune system?

X Tick what is applicable to you.

HEALTH YES NO

Do you get more than three colds a year?

Do you find it hard to beat an infection (cold or otherwise)?

Are you prone to rashes?

Do you generally take antibiotics twice or more each year?

Have you had a major personal loss in the past year?

Is there any history of cancer in your family?

Do you take any drugs or medicines?

Do you have any inflammatory disease such as eczema, asthma or

arthritis?

DIET YES NO

Do you drink more than 1 unit of alcohol a day?

Do you drink less than 1 litre of water a day (including that in drinks)?

Do you eat more than 1 tablespoon of sugar a day?

Do you rarely eat raw fruit and vegetables?

Do you rarely take supplements?

Do you eat a lot of refined, processed or convenience foods?

Do you need something to get you going in the morning or at regular

intervals during the day, like tea or coffee or cigarettes?

Do you often feel drowsy or sleepy during the day, or after meals?

Do you eat red meat more than five times a week?

Do you eat a lot of processed food (snacks) in between or instead of

meals?





45

LIFESTYLE YES NO

Do you spend less than one hour exposed to natural light each day?

Do you do very little exercise?

Is your job boring and routine like?

Do you smoke?

Do you live or work in a smoky environment?

Do you sleep badly or wake up with your mind racing?

Are you unhappy with any major aspect of your life?

Do you easily get irritable?

Are you overweight?

Do you often eat on the run or under stress?

How many “Yes” responses do you have? ____________________

IF YOUR SCORE IS….

20 or more you need to make some considerable changes to your

diet and lifestyle if you want to achieve a strong immune system that

will keep you consistently healthy. This workshop will give you clear

guidance. You may also wish to consider seeing a nutrition

consultant who can speed up your transition to maximum immune

power

10 or more you are average but who wants to be average? Look

at your ‘yes’ answers and find ways of changing your diet and

lifestyle to turn these into ‘no’ answers.

Less than 10 you are doing well and are likely to have a

reasonably strong immune system. To fine-tune your health,

take note of your ‘yes’ answers and find ways of changing your

diet and lifestyle to turn these into ‘no’ answers.

To understand PNI, we should have a basic understanding of the brain and its pathways that influence our being. At the center of everything in our world is our consciousness wherein is represented our subjective picture of reality, i.e. the way





46

we make sense of our environment throughout life. To understand people’s subjective view of reality, it is important to understand how a bias, mindset or perception is formed in the human mind. Thoughts originate in the cortex of the brain. All information in the brain are organized, synthesized and processed by brain cells (neurons) which are constantly interacting and interconnecting with other brain cells, forming neuron pathways. The more this new information is repeated and reinforced, the more the neuron pathways in the cortex are strengthened through protein deposits, until it becomes permanent pathways. When this happens it means that a new skill, mindset, attitude, habit, bias, perception or behavior has been formed.

INTERCONNECTIONS IN A NEWBORN BABY’S BRAIN This process can be clarified through the example of how self- esteem is established. All people have either a positive or negative self- esteem. They think of themselves as OK or NOT OK. When we think of ourselves as NOT OK it means that we have mostly been exposed to rejection, negative feedback lack of response and experiences in our nurture years, with less success experiences and less positive feedback. These pathways are carried forward into adulthood and manifests in our personality in the same way.

Our self-esteem determines who we think we are and how successful we are going to be. The above explanation can be clarified by the example of two shoe salesmen





47

who went to a remote place in Africa to sell shoes. When they arrived at their destination they discovered that the people who live there do not wear shoes. The one immediately contacted his company - with this message: “Big problems! The people here do not wear shoes.” The other one also contacted his company - with this message: “Huge opportunities! The people here do not wear shoes.” We are what we think we are. Henry Ford once said: “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right.”

A mindsets or bias is our internal, subjective perception of reality manifesting in behavior and values. It is that which a person knows. It indicates our perceptions or understanding of the environment we live in. A perception therefore is not the real external reality; it is a person’s subjective outlook on life.

UNDERSTANDING is undoubtedly the best way to break the shackles of a limiting perception of your environment. No matter how grim a person’s world may be, if they merely read about, or see others enjoying the success of overcoming incredible challenges, the emotional stimulation of such experiences will rejuvenate the immune system and cause an acceleration of energy that will allow them to feel they can and will succeed. When those thoughts, behaviors and values are often repeated or reinforced, it forms an attitude in the deeper parts of the brain. An attitude is the way w e habitually think under any given circumstances. A study carried out at Harvard University concluded that 100% of the reasons attributed to people’s success can be put down to ATTITUDE. A positive attitude is the outward manifestation of a mind that is in harmony with the environment, a strong indicator of personal security, inner peace and serenity. More than 90% of what we do every day is done as a matter of habit.





48

The feelings that flow, as a result of our interaction with the external environment, are

influenced by our own inner reality. It must be concluded therefore, that if the

outcomes are to be positive, a person’s perception of the environment must surely be

correct. If the person’s understanding / perception is incorrect the chances of

achieving a positive outcome are extremely limited. For people to maximize their

potential, they must first understand the mechanics behind the brain’s creation of its

own Inner Reality so that the process for upgrading and / or changing it will be easily

recognized.

Specific mindsets have been identified which directly affect immune function as well

as many other body functions. At the one extreme is the positive mindset which is

characterized by a purposeful individual, someone who is inspired and is generally

optimistic. This individual manifests a very vitalized and positive immune system

which generally protects him / her against infections and tumor formation.

“We must look at the lens through which we see the

world, as well as the world we see, and understand that the

lens itself shapes how we interpret the world.”

Stephen Covey





49

On the other extreme is the negative individual who is purposeless, does not see any

purpose to life and has a poor self-image and poor self-esteem. More importantly, he/

she perceive that his / her negative situation is permanent and unchangeable.

This type of individual gives rise to a suppressed immune function which often

manifests in the development of chronic infections or inflammations and, if persistent

for more than six to nine months in the experience of Dr. Ian Weinberg, may result in

the development of tumors. In the review of case studies, one sees a common

situation of individuals who, due to various life situations, experience a

purposelessness, which subsequently develops into poor self-worth. If this is

perceived to be an unchangeable situation it may result in a negative cascade of

influences on their body functions, notably the immune system. The negative mindset

usually results from the loss of a central focus of purpose in life which may be either a

job, person or situation.

There are three recognizable wellness stereo types. They are referred to as

High Performer; Control Freak; Passive Spectator. The Control Freak and Passive

Spectator represent deprivation profiles, which are characterized by negative mind-

sets that will lead to illness. The High Performer profile is the ideal profile that all

people should strive to become.

Although there are many ways in which these stereo types can form, an explanation

will be given of how these stereo types may be formed during the early nurturing

years in order to increase understanding of how mindsets lead to illness.

There are two primary reasons for deprivation:

a.) We may not have all the baseline cells available because of a genetic

deficiency or as a result of damage to certain brain cells during

development in the womb or at birth.

b.) More significantly: Deprivation in our nurture years, where brain cells where

available but positive stimulation from the environment was mostly

unavailable.





50

4.3.1. THE CONTROL FREAK

The Control Freak may have its origins in early nurture year’s deprivation. This

individual’s needs were only met after intense efforts. On many occasions during early

infancy, when they required a response and nurturing attention before their tightly

regimented schedule of four hourly feeds, their cries were frequently ignored.

With a need to elicit a certain response they learned that screaming a certain pitch

often resulted in one of the parents coming into the room to pick them up or feed them.

From this early drive for recognition of their needs they realized the

need to rapidly rationalize and understand the environment so that

they could master and manipulate it in order to gain a response.

The manipulation of the environment at such an early age,

developed into an ongoing behavioral pattern or mindset which

was based on fear of failure (i.e. not getting a response).

The fact that this infant had access to, or use of a very limited part

of its environment to obtain a response, we see that their profile reflects a very narrow

or limited perspective of their environment. If this mindset is carried forward into

adulthood, it will manifest in these individuals being very narrow minded.

In each aspect of their lives their perspectives will be limited and narrow, reflecting a

need to rationalize in order to manipulate and gain a response from their environment.

This results in the development of separated, unintegrated perceptions or mindsets of

fragmented reality which effectively filters out a large part of the environment thus the

truth. The direct consequence of these filters serves to create future inherent mind-

sets that distort or delete incoming information. When they are unable to distort or

delete information and it cannot be integrated with other mindsets, they become fearful

and pessimistic, causing an anxiety reaction which can most certainly result in high

blood pressure and suppression of immune function.





51

4.3.1.1. Characteristics of Control Freaks

- they are fear driven

- they fear failure – loss of tenure, promotion and recognition

- they fear the absence of recognition

- they fear not achieving or succeeding

- they fear not being able to predict the outcome of a situation

- they need to manipulate in order to gain any response

- failure is a hostile environment over which they feel they have no control

- they seek superiority and power and use conformity as a means to control

- they are purposeful, aggressive and competitive (for recognition and adoration)

- they group with others of the same mindset – rejecting individuals who do not

conform to their perception. Why? Because they can’t relate to them

- this grouping enhances competitiveness which unknowingly aggravates this

particular mindset and leads to stress overload and breakdown

- they tend to be always worried about what others think

• The Control Freak has a narrow focus on life. These narrow minded perceptions

are their reality. Anything that falls outside of their perceived reality they simply

discard or judge as inferior because it is too difficult or painful to integrate into

their own reality. For this reason they are very judgmental and constantly on the

offensive trying to justify their reality. They tend to delete and distort that which is

not recognized as familiar (i.e. different and / or hostile). They often are victims of

“tunnel vision.”

• They are driven by positive, extrinsic rewards and the need to surround

themselves with perceived external manifestations of success – material things.

They are therefore in the HAVE mode. They work hard to have material things

and find their identity in what they have, not in who they are.

• Their self-image and self-worth are reasonable as long as environmental

recognition prevails. Their self-esteem depends on what they think others think of

them. It is extrinsic and depends on constant positive reinforcement.

• Everything in their lives is pre-planned and controlled with little or no room for

spontaneity.

• They are routine-based and intolerant of external disruptions





52

4.3.1.2. Health Conditions

• Their approach is one of fight or flight

• Stiffness of posture and muscle tone

• High energy motor activity

• Hypertension

• Tend to explode because of aggression or panic

They generally suffer from:

• Burn-out

• Heart disease

• Stroke

The second type of deprivation profile typically represents an

individual plagued by a history of depression.

As an infant they experienced little or no response to their needs, no

matter how much effort was expended in getting a response. The

result, very little fragments of reality have been integrated with very

little attempt at understanding their world.

The Passive Spectator profiles are essentially purposeless in that a response is very

rare. This particular stereotype is further manifested by a futility of life with intense

rejection, poor self-worth, self-esteem and poor motivation.

Having experienced rejection, a repressive childhood and early parental neglect their

mindset is weighed down by excessive negative filters.





53

Because such a large part of their environment has been filtered out, their mindsets or

perception consist of many narrow-based mindsets, which are unintegrated. This

profile reflects a mindset in which no amount of effort on the part of the infant evoked a

response. Consequently there was no need to understand the environment so as to

manipulate it and control it. As a result of this fragmentation, Passive Spectators

struggle, to make sense of their environment.

They lack meaning and direction in life and continually question their self-worth. They

epitomize the Dis-Ease – ridden mind-body state, while lacking in the necessary

energy and purpose required for changing the situation. Their negative mindsets put

their immune function at risk.

For these individuals there is a critical need to experience “good feelings” and positive

drive which will enhance immune function. They may often need to piggy back on the

other two stereo types in order to see through the successful completion of tasks.

4.3.2.1. Characteristics of Passive Spectators

• They are purposeless

• They tend to always be wondering what it’s all about

• Experience difficulty to make sense of the environment, hence the

purposelessness and despair

• They usually are pessimistic, always finding reasons why not to get things

done or succeed

• Despairing of the environment progresses to the despairing of self,

resulting in poor self-image, self-worth and self-esteem

• Their attitude is one of: “Why try – What’s the use – I’ll get no response

anyway”

• They experience little or no intrinsic motivation

• Need to diminish the achievements of others (envy). Occasionally they

will maliciously sabotage achievements of others to lessen the pain of

their own lack of achievement and fulfilment. Extreme need for attention

and acknowledgement.

• Guilt – not deserving of any positive outcomes

• Rarely gets a response to their needs

• Their reality is: “Nothing ever responds – what’s the point of trying”

• Their expectation is almost always – failure

4.3.2.2. Health Conditions

• Depression

• Hypochondriasis

• Chronic infections or inflammations

• Tumors





54

This is the third wellness stereotype which is represented by balanced perceptions of

their lives.

Herein we see the characteristics of individuals who have great balance in their

lives.

Raised in a nurturing environment, which provided a response to their needs, the

parental reinforcement of their capacity and abilities and their reinforced

recognition thereof, instilled in them a deep-seated sense of self-worth. With little

limiting filters in place, they tend to be optimistic in their outlook and enriched with

a realistic view of the environment. Having been so empowered, their coping

skills enable them to adapt to change and confront change positively.

The unknown does not frighten them since their self-esteem and inner security

reinforces their confidence in their abilities to work through any challenge without

having to control it. Because they are secure in whom they are, they are of a rare

breed of people who are able to ‘go with the flow.’

Their attitude is synchronous with the successful outcomes which manifest in their

environment. They gravitate towards the “good feeling” of self-fulfilment and

increased understanding which stem from their integrated and

balanced perspectives on life.

They are able to make perfect sense of the environments in which

they operate and interact. Their rich blessing: an unlimited capacity

for developing potential and coping with change.

Consequently, their state of mind enhances immune function, and assures them of a

vital, purposeful, existence.





55

4.3.3.1. Characteristics of High Performers

• They are driven by enjoyment and fulfilment

• They are not victims of “the fear of failure”

• They are self-satisfied by their own actions and the

enjoyment thereof

• They have a broad range of interests and enjoy a realistic

perception of the environment

• They enjoy a healthy balance between their different spheres of interest,

that is work, rest, family and recreation

• They experience little frustration and aggression based

upon their non-judgmental perception of people and entities.

• They do not waste energy and are not distracted by the

need to obtain environmental recognition and approval

• In all applications of performance, these people have the

edge because of their greater environmental perception

(capacity to recognize opportunity), enhanced self-

confidence, (expect success) and are not phased by any set

backs

• Thye are open-minded

• They are innovative

• They focus on failure re-appraisal and success

integration

• They are self-confident and in sync with the environment

• They have high vitality and are generally full of energy

These individuals are not driven by the fear of failure but rather the fulfilment and

enjoyment that arises out of a balanced life style. Theirs is a broad environmental

perception and therefore they are open-minded and able to perceive opportunity

and read more accurately the finer details in the extended environment.

These individuals usually manifest a balance of spheres of interest because they

have a more accurate perception of entities that are cross-wired.

Although very few people can be characterized as only a High Performer, Control

Freak or Passive Spectator, it is essential to work hard on developing more High

Performer characteristics and unlearn Control Freak and Passive Spectator

Characteristics.

The High Performer is also innovative in that he or she is able to perceive and

understand more extensive dynamics in the environment and are not driven by

the need for recognition. Any failures they experience are merely re-appraised

and their activities realigned towards success which serves to drive them to

further purposefulness and integration.





56

1. Name the 2 primary reasons for deprivation:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

2. Name 5 characteristics of High Performer, Control Freak and Passive Spectator

wellness stereo types:

High Performer Control Freak Passive Spectator

3. Name 3 physiological conditions associated w/ each wellness stereo type:

4. I am mostly a ____________________ Wellness Stereo Type.

4.1 What must I be aware of?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

High Performer Control Freak Passive Spectator

“In the journey into the empires of our mind, we must remember that

success is a process, not a destination, let alone a summit. You must

always strive for excellence, but never see perfection”

-Dennis Waitley





57

4.2 How does it influence my health?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

4.3 How does it influence others around me?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

4.4 What constructive steps am I going to take now?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

5. How can people increase their resilience to stress and prevent burnout?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Please Note:

The techniques and activities suggested in this workbook are solely for educational,

training and/or self-development processes. The author and Neuro-Link do not directly

or indirectly present any part of this manual as a diagnosis or as a prescription for any

ailment for any learner or worker. Persons using the profiles, techniques and activities

reported herein, do so for educational, training or self-development purposes only.





58

1. Chichester & Garfunkel STRESS BLASTERS

EC Publications. 1996.

ISBN: 0-87596-358-7

2. Cunningham, Barton J. THE STRESS MANAGEMENT SOURCE BOOK

Lowell House. 1997.

ISBN: 0-7373-0508-8

3. Jensen, E. BRAIN-BASED LEARNING

Turning Point Publishing. 1996.

ISBN: 0-9637832-1-1

4. Hannaford, Carla. SMART MOVES

Great Ocean Publisher. 1995.

ISBN: 0-91556-27-8

5. Howard, Pierce J. THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THE BRAIN

Leornion Press. 1994.

ISBN: 0-9636389-0-4

6. Hannaford, Carla. THE DOMINANCE FACTORS

Great Ocean Publisher. 1997.

ISBN: 0-91556-31-1

7. Leyden-Rubenstein, Lori A. THE STRESS MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK

Keats Publishing Inc. 1998.

ISBN: 0-87983-794-2

8. Vermeulen, André. ADVANCED WHOLE BRAIN INTEGRATION

Manual. Neuro-Link. 1998.

ISBN: 0-553-10462-4

9. Frankl, Victor . MANS SEARCH FOR MEANING

1995.

ISBN: 0- 67124422-1

10. Weinberg, Ian THE COMPLETE SELF-ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

Course Manual, 1998.

11. Vorderman, Carol SUPER BRAIN

Vermilion. 2007.

ISBN: 9780091917029





59

“Live life to the fullest. Trust God. Do what you love.

Take risks. Challenge yourself.

Stretch the limitations of your thinking. Be enthusiastic.

Laugh. Make smart decisions. Continue learning.

Have fun. Be thankful for small mercies. Love yourself.

Love others.

Live as if this is all that matters!”

- André Vermeulen



Documents

Neuro-Link - Coping with change, managing stress ......© 2016 Neuro-Link Global. All Right Reserved. 720-490-8151 - [email protected] 3 1. CHANGE, STRESS & WELLNESS .....6 1.1