Living in Two Worlds - STRESS & MINDFULNESS
Fig.1 LTW Model of stress
L= individual Logical world; A = Attentional system; P = shared Physical world
Under conditions of stress negative emotions and negative feelings dominate the individual logical world L. The energy equilibrium is disrupted (see Fig.1): energy increases in L (diagram eL/t) and decreases in the attentional system A (diagram eA/t).
World L takes the lead and directs attention to negative memories (past) or negative visions (future). Attention becomes less autonomous, its activity is more than usual under the control of world L.
Under these conditions the attentional system cannot fulfill its task to connect world L and world P in an equilibrated way. Thus world L partially loses connection with the physical world P and the viability check is partially skipped.
This isolation of world L and its higher negative energy leads to a further increase of stress and this to a higher disconnection between world L and P.
This is where despair and psychological impairments find the needed environment to emerge and grow, for example obsessive thoughts and other aspects of OCD.
Fortunately the attentional system A can reestablish the lost energy equilibrium and reconnect world L and P.
How? Simple: by MINDFULNESS MEDITATION [1]. Simple, but not easy!
Mindfulness meditation increases the energy of the attentional system, reduces the dominance of world L and reestablishes the equilibrium and the connection between world L and world P.
This is how, seen from the perspective of the knowledge theory of Operational Constructivism, mindfulness meditation achieves its effect of reducing stress, pain and illness.
Notes:
[1] Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990) Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. New York: Random House. Revised edition 2013.
