Every stage in life, from the time one is made in the mother’s womb till the time one is put to rest in the tomb, stress keeps playing its part. Life is a ceaseless, continuous change until death. This change needs a catalyst and that is called stress. If one learns to use this catalyst for one’s good, stress becomes our best friend. If, on the other hand, one keeps bending under all kinds of change, one burns himself out faster.

The three building blocks of an individual are his mind, his genes and, of course, his physical self. Of the three, the last is the least important. How one is able to cope with difficult situations in life depends purely on one’s mind and to a limited extent on his genes.

Human beings have a functional curve in their life. Performance in any field of human endeavour depends to a large extent on our capacity to arouse our dormant sympathetic system. As long as man keeps up this with a positive attitude, the results are going to be positive. A time comes for most of us when further stimulation of the arousal may not be matched by better performance. This peak level is different for each of us and it is in knowing the peak that the secret of happy living depends. If one does not know one’s limitations, one gets into a state where the arousal keeps on going up but the constructive phase gives place to a destructive downward trend with disease, disability and death. The capacity to know all these depends on the human mind, to a large extent.

The human function curve, first described by a thinking London cardiologist, Peter Nixon, is something like this.

It is in the bad phase (Catabolic phase) that problems start for mankind. Some people have been well and healthy and even productive even in their old age. Take the example of President DeGaull of France, who was in his peak at the age of 96 years as the head of the Government there, only to get into the catabolic phase soon after his defeat in the general elections when he was 97 years old, to die of a massive heart attack. The only change was in his mind. (frustration and depression). His genes and his physical body remained the same. Many such examples could be given from history but suffice it to stress that mind runs the body.

If you are distressed how do you cope with it?

1. Soothing sleep does a lot of good to relieve distress. It is the worry of not sleeping (insomnia) that produces more distress indeed. Cat naps-short dreamy sleep, do a lot of good to the system (REM sleep). During this period the body undertakes the flushing operation of all systems. It is like the mother cleaning the kitchen after the children have messed it up. The body is cleansed of all the debris of the day’s work to get it ready to face another day. Worrying over the length of sleep and also its depth is of no use. Body’s internal clock knows when to wake you up. Do not use the artificial external clocks to time your sleep. I find the best remedy is not to look at any watch after one gets home until one wakes up in the morning. Avoid sleeping pills !

2. Plan everyday in such a way that you have timing for everything including some leisure to "laugh" preferably at yourself.

3. Pace yourself in such a way that too much is not packed into your baggage. Know your capacity and pack your sack just enough to cope with.

4. One must always define one’s goals. There is no point in running after any mirages.

5. Eat sensibly. Small frequent meals which are enjoyed will go a long way. Large infrequent meals are not good. Do not let your mind eat into your stomach, either to reduce or increase your appetite.

6. Life is a struggle. Happiness is to live dangerously! Troubles come and troubles go. Nothing is permanent in this life. Even if you think you have the biggest calamity in life, sunshine awaits you round the corner.

7. Learn to say no when it is necessary and, if possible, make it as sweet as your yes.

8. It is in giving that you get. Give love in abundance. it does not make you any poorer; on the contrary it makes you richer.Said Amy Cassidy, the American poetess, "If joy is what you give away, joy is what comes back each day."

9. Beware of short cuts. Alcohol is no solution for your problems. It may help you to drown your sorrows temporarily, but in the long run, your sorrows will swim and you will drown in alcohol.

10. Many people use cigarette smoke to fight distress. The only risk factor which definitely kills is cigarette smoke. If one smokes to avoid stress, it definitely ignites one’s last smoke as well.

11. The best antidote for all kinds of distress is universal love. If you have any distress, sit down with a piece of paper and pencil and try to get at its roots. You will invariably end up with jealousy, hatred, anger and pride at the root of all your distress. What better tool there is to fight all those human enemies except abundant love for all...?!