Truly magnificent piece of reporting. Congratulations. An interesting study by Salvatore Maddi, University California in 1980’s followed 430 employees of Illinois Bell, when the company was going through breakup. Many employees suffered chronic stress, divorce, substance abuse etc, but they found a cohort of one-third fared very well. When they investigated their backgrounds they found the same as most other employees who did not do well, except that they were encouraged to believe they were special and their privations were a preparation for their future leadership. In other words they were taught by their parents to transcend chronic stress as a preparation for leadership. Hormesis allows us to sublimate chronic stress into utility.
Thank you Geoffrey! I must comment that much of the work in stress-related disease appears to be somewhat limited for the time being. At the same time we're aware that biochemical processes are altered due to changes in emotion and mental state so it shouldn't come as a surprise that our body reacts in a certain way to such a state. It's also the fact that, as you mentioned, those with chronic stress are likely to abuse alcohol or other substances, and so that itself can come with its own harmful effects that may add onto or confound chronic stress factors.
When it comes to stress, it's always the idea of being antifragile and resilient. Being able to handle stress well is important, and I think for many people, especially in the modern age, it's difficult for people to properly deal with stress. I think that's why social media can be so damaging, especially when one may see that their comments are not being taken well.
This, of course isn’t new. Thank you for putting it together it was nicely done. But I think venting is a valuable tool to help release that anger. Talk therapy for example. I see what has happened on the last week as group talk therapy. Oster was the trigger. I personally feel better for expressing my feelings. I also feel less ashamed for my anger. I am happy to know I am not alone with these feelings. Personally my sense of well being has increased.
It's certainly not new, but I think it's a reminder and adds some context. It's easy to hear that stress is harmful or can kill you, but it's another to explain what processes are occurring. I think hearing the colitis and understanding that aspect is one of those things since it's not uncommon to get an upset stomach when under stress. That may also explain why people may not feel the need to eat when under stress as the body may not be able to deal with digestion (it may also explain the activation of the sympathetic nervous system which may direct bloodflow from the GI to the peripherals of the body).
When it comes to Oster, I will say that the response to her is clear that many people have a lot of pent up rage. Like I mentioned in my previous post she is acting as a conduit for everything that has gone on. The issue then is not necessarily Oster, but it may be an indication that people are not vetting their anger and stress out in a healthy manner. Many people may be holding it in and waiting for that one incident to let their anger out. The build up is what's damaging, and seeing many people have built up that anger I'd be worried how detrimental this has been on everyone's health.
People need cathartic avenues, and although sometimes Substack and other places can help one not feel alone, it may create a groupthink mentality in which people may feel inclined to go along with everything others say. It's one of the reasons I argue against empty platitudes on Substack since it feeds more into the group-like mentality than add to the discourse.
Excellent and inspiring summary, and a good reminder of the benefits of managing our inner state.
We do, however, have to differentiate between a state of actively feeling anger, and simply cataloguing certain people based on their demonstrated behavior into our mental personae non gratae file.
This is about having an internal locus of control. Feeling anger because of a loss of control, a loss of safety, is probably much worse than allowing negative feelings to create safety. I choose to not associate with people that cannot be trusted, whose presence is not a positive force in my life. Perhaps that, to some, is a negative holding onto anger and not forgiving and forgetting, but I find the latter unwise and feel empowered by my ability to discern who is worth my time and good for me. Many have lost my respect, some will never have my goodwill or friendship anymore. What I aspire to is to, in regards to such people, be like the Mad Men character Don Draper who famously stated “I don’t think about you at all”.
Certainly as I get older I tend to learn towards what you stated. As I mentioned in the previous post I tend to feel a bit indifferent to apologies. I personally don't need them, nor would I want them if it may stir up it's own drama. Rather, it's understanding who is worth your time and who isn't. Being surrounding by negativity can weigh heavily, and finding out who provides enrichment and who tends to be the Debbie Downer is pretty important. Having perspective in one's own relationship is something I continue to work on.
So when I state find forgiveness I tend to argue that one should find forgiveness with those who enrich one's own experience and life, usually friends or family, but being aware of the dynamics of such relationships.
That's why, for Oster, I don't know who she is so I don't consider to be of my concern to be honest. It's more of a distraction for the people who are more deserving of feelings of anger and resentment.
I absolutely agree that we need to economize our time and attention, both IRL and in the online public sphere. The less time one has left on earth the more this tends to become obvious. My own comments were also based on the experience that people are sometimes willing to inflict reputational and other types of ostracizing harm on others, and those are the types of people -- once they've outed themselves -- that I can't accept back into my personal sphere, nor trust. Into this "cannot be trusted" category I sort both public officials/other major players, individuals that attempt to tarnish reputations online and socially, as well as family members/friends that have directly ostracized me and been truly unkind with the excuse of not accepting unvaccinated and harboring justified anger towards them.
More importantly, your reminders about the effect of our mindset on health have been very welcome, and have inspired me to return to meditation/guided visualization, my personal favorite forms of stress modulation.
Truly magnificent piece of reporting. Congratulations. An interesting study by Salvatore Maddi, University California in 1980’s followed 430 employees of Illinois Bell, when the company was going through breakup. Many employees suffered chronic stress, divorce, substance abuse etc, but they found a cohort of one-third fared very well. When they investigated their backgrounds they found the same as most other employees who did not do well, except that they were encouraged to believe they were special and their privations were a preparation for their future leadership. In other words they were taught by their parents to transcend chronic stress as a preparation for leadership. Hormesis allows us to sublimate chronic stress into utility.
Thank you Geoffrey! I must comment that much of the work in stress-related disease appears to be somewhat limited for the time being. At the same time we're aware that biochemical processes are altered due to changes in emotion and mental state so it shouldn't come as a surprise that our body reacts in a certain way to such a state. It's also the fact that, as you mentioned, those with chronic stress are likely to abuse alcohol or other substances, and so that itself can come with its own harmful effects that may add onto or confound chronic stress factors.
When it comes to stress, it's always the idea of being antifragile and resilient. Being able to handle stress well is important, and I think for many people, especially in the modern age, it's difficult for people to properly deal with stress. I think that's why social media can be so damaging, especially when one may see that their comments are not being taken well.
I may have to look into that study as well!
Excellent point!
This, of course isn’t new. Thank you for putting it together it was nicely done. But I think venting is a valuable tool to help release that anger. Talk therapy for example. I see what has happened on the last week as group talk therapy. Oster was the trigger. I personally feel better for expressing my feelings. I also feel less ashamed for my anger. I am happy to know I am not alone with these feelings. Personally my sense of well being has increased.
It's certainly not new, but I think it's a reminder and adds some context. It's easy to hear that stress is harmful or can kill you, but it's another to explain what processes are occurring. I think hearing the colitis and understanding that aspect is one of those things since it's not uncommon to get an upset stomach when under stress. That may also explain why people may not feel the need to eat when under stress as the body may not be able to deal with digestion (it may also explain the activation of the sympathetic nervous system which may direct bloodflow from the GI to the peripherals of the body).
When it comes to Oster, I will say that the response to her is clear that many people have a lot of pent up rage. Like I mentioned in my previous post she is acting as a conduit for everything that has gone on. The issue then is not necessarily Oster, but it may be an indication that people are not vetting their anger and stress out in a healthy manner. Many people may be holding it in and waiting for that one incident to let their anger out. The build up is what's damaging, and seeing many people have built up that anger I'd be worried how detrimental this has been on everyone's health.
People need cathartic avenues, and although sometimes Substack and other places can help one not feel alone, it may create a groupthink mentality in which people may feel inclined to go along with everything others say. It's one of the reasons I argue against empty platitudes on Substack since it feeds more into the group-like mentality than add to the discourse.
Excellent and inspiring summary, and a good reminder of the benefits of managing our inner state.
We do, however, have to differentiate between a state of actively feeling anger, and simply cataloguing certain people based on their demonstrated behavior into our mental personae non gratae file.
This is about having an internal locus of control. Feeling anger because of a loss of control, a loss of safety, is probably much worse than allowing negative feelings to create safety. I choose to not associate with people that cannot be trusted, whose presence is not a positive force in my life. Perhaps that, to some, is a negative holding onto anger and not forgiving and forgetting, but I find the latter unwise and feel empowered by my ability to discern who is worth my time and good for me. Many have lost my respect, some will never have my goodwill or friendship anymore. What I aspire to is to, in regards to such people, be like the Mad Men character Don Draper who famously stated “I don’t think about you at all”.
Certainly as I get older I tend to learn towards what you stated. As I mentioned in the previous post I tend to feel a bit indifferent to apologies. I personally don't need them, nor would I want them if it may stir up it's own drama. Rather, it's understanding who is worth your time and who isn't. Being surrounding by negativity can weigh heavily, and finding out who provides enrichment and who tends to be the Debbie Downer is pretty important. Having perspective in one's own relationship is something I continue to work on.
So when I state find forgiveness I tend to argue that one should find forgiveness with those who enrich one's own experience and life, usually friends or family, but being aware of the dynamics of such relationships.
That's why, for Oster, I don't know who she is so I don't consider to be of my concern to be honest. It's more of a distraction for the people who are more deserving of feelings of anger and resentment.
I absolutely agree that we need to economize our time and attention, both IRL and in the online public sphere. The less time one has left on earth the more this tends to become obvious. My own comments were also based on the experience that people are sometimes willing to inflict reputational and other types of ostracizing harm on others, and those are the types of people -- once they've outed themselves -- that I can't accept back into my personal sphere, nor trust. Into this "cannot be trusted" category I sort both public officials/other major players, individuals that attempt to tarnish reputations online and socially, as well as family members/friends that have directly ostracized me and been truly unkind with the excuse of not accepting unvaccinated and harboring justified anger towards them.
More importantly, your reminders about the effect of our mindset on health have been very welcome, and have inspired me to return to meditation/guided visualization, my personal favorite forms of stress modulation.
Thanks