Prolonged Adaption Stress Syndrome (PASS)

©Arlene Taylor PhD

Ignoring who you truly, authentically are can literally be killing you... Forcing yourself to be someone you are not or stuffing down who you really are...will tax you so much that it will shorten your life by years and years.
—Phillip C. McGraw PhD, from his book Self Matters

Introduction

In the mid ‘70’s after experiencing first-hand the exhaustion of burnout and mid-life crisis, Taylor became even more interested in the concept of energy. With increased awareness due to her own illness, she began to notice others who also appeared to be experiencing burnout or mid-life crisis, or who were recovering from one or the other. Some of their symptoms appeared to match hers.

Taylor interviewed some of these individuals. Several had suspected PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). According to their respective physicians, however, the patients’ reported symptoms did not meet the classic definition for PTSD. As Taylor began to investigate this topic further she discovered that many of the symptoms reported by these individuals did, to some extent, mirror PTSD but with two notable exceptions: the individuals were unable to identify a specific incident that could have served to trigger the symptoms (e.g., rape, military service in a war zone, catastrophic illness, catastrophic events), and flashbacks did not occur.

Common Themes

Gradually, Taylor identified a collection of symptoms that seemed to be exhibited fairly consistently in this group of individuals, although the actual level of symptomatology varied depending on the individual and his/her own history. A common theme ran through their histories. All of them expressed disappointment and dissatisfaction with life as they had been living it for the past decade or so. The reasons for this dissatisfaction were, at times, nebulous, but clearly life wasn’t working for them. Certainly not in the way in which they had been led to believe it could work.

Persistent fatigue was a key trigger for seeking consultation, a fatigue that couldn’t be tied to anything specific. None had been diagnosed with an illness, disease, or condition that would be associated typically with energy drain (e.g., Infectious Mononucleosis, CFIDS or Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome).

Some of the participants reported having completed a variety of assessments including Ned Herrmann’s brain-function assessment, the MBTI, or Keirsey-Bates assessment. A few had gone through the Johnson-O’Connor aptitude testing or some other type of evaluation. Another common theme was that the assessment results didn’t “feel” representative of who they thought they were at their core. That is, the assessment results often indicated that significant skills had been achieved in activities that were disliked, dreaded, or regularly procrastinated. Furthermore, they frequently experienced fatigue during and/or at the completion of those activities.

In 1991, Taylor became licensed to score and interpret the Benziger Thinking Styles Assessment, or BTSA. She observed anecdotally that individuals who exhibited this cluster of symptoms, and who had also completed the BTSA, often evidenced “adaption” in their BTSA profile. That is, they were struggling to accomplish tasks that were energy-intensive. This further reinforced Taylor’s perception that the energy drain reported by these individuals was related to the types of activities they were asking their brains to accomplish.

There were other individuals who exhibited some, but not all, of the symptoms. These individuals often reported that portions of their lives were working quite well, while others were not. When they were engaged in activities that matched what their brains did easily, they felt good and had plenty of energy. When the opposite occurred, they felt drained and disappointed or uncomfortable. In some cases they were still quite young in age and still had a lot of energy, but had noticed some decrease when trying to perform specific activities or as compared with some of their friends.

Eight Symptoms

For purposes of describing this set of symptoms in a more formal manner and sharing her work with others, Taylor arrived at the acronym PASS: Prolonged Adaption Stress Syndrome. Eight commonly observed symptoms may be present in varying degrees in individuals who have developed PASS as a result of years of living an energy-exhausting lifestyle. A brief description of these eight symptoms follows.

1. Fatigue

The brain likely has to work much harder when trying to accomplish tasks that do not match its own innate preferences or biochemical giftedness. The additional energy-expenditure requirements can contribute to a progressive fatigue that is not really alleviated by sleep. Other symptoms can include an increased need for sleep, interference with sleep, and decreased dreaming. These can conspire to cause further sleep deprivation and fatigue that sometimes borders on exhaustion.

2. Hypervigilance

Living an energy-exhaustive lifestyle can push the brain to activate a protective safety mechanism. This hypervigilance can be exhibited at times as a startle reflex, or increased jitteriness. The Reticular Activating System or RAS can push you into a state of protective alertness. The additional energy expenditure to enlarge the brain’s metaphoric opening can contribute to fatigue. NOTE: This can sometimes be demonstrated in the BTSA (Benziger Thinking Styles Assessment) as a “dog leg” toward introversion.

3. Immune System Suppression

Failure to live your own innate giftedness, which, in effect, is akin to living a lie, can suppress immune system function (e.g., temporarily shrink the Thymus gland). Outcomes that may be observed related to immune system suppression can include a slowed rate of healing, exacerbation of autoimmune diseases, an increased susceptibility to contagious illnesses, and/or an increased risk of developing diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

4. Interference with Brain Function

Interference with functions of the frontal lobes may show up in a variety of ways. You may experience a decrease in artistic or creative competencies (e.g., writer’s block, difficulty brainstorming options, diminished problem-solving skills). Or you may experience interference with your ability to make logical or rational decisions, exhibit a tendency toward increased injuries due to cognitive impairment, or notice that your thinking ability seems less clear.

5. Changes in Neurochemistry

Changes in hypothalamus and pituitary function can affect hormonal balance. This may be observed in myriad ways (e.g., decreased growth hormone, insulin production irregularities, alteration in reproduction functions, an increase in glucocorticoids that can speed up aging of the Hippocampus). Studies of mice and rats have shown that altered neurochemistry due to extreme or prolonged stress may interfere with the permeability of the Blood Brain Barrier in the brain.

6. Memory Problems

Cortisol, released under stress, can interfere with the function of memory in a variety of ways. Dr. Robert Sapolsky of Stanford University (author of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers) has outlined several consequences of increased cortisol production, all of which can impact the function of memory:

Decreased utilization of blood sugar by the Hippocampus can create an energy shortage that interferes with an ability to lay down a memory, store data in long-term memory, or access/recall memory at a later date.
Diminished neurotransmitter function (e.g., “phone lines are down”) can reduce effective neuron communication. This can result in the mind becoming muddled, with negative effects on attention and concentration.
Increased production of free radicals associated with stress can actually kill brain cells from within (to say nothing of contributing to other problems such as wrinkling!).

7. Discouragement / Depression

Repeated triggering of the Conserve/Withdraw reaction form to stress can lead to discouragement. Over time, the discouragement can lead to the development of and/or the exacerbation of depression. Estimates are that 20 million people in the United States may be depressed at any given time, with approximately 15% of those being suicidal. A mismatch between an individual’s innate giftedness and the way in which he/she is expending vital energy likely contributes to discouragement and depression. NOTE: Two other reaction forms are Fight/Flight (males are more likely to exhibit this form) and Tend/Befriend (females are more likely to exhibit this form.

8. Self-Esteem Problems

Over time, a lack of success in life, as well as the cumulative affect of some of these other symptoms, can whack one’s sense of self-worth. It can also exacerbate existing self-esteem problems. These issues can appear as behaviors that involve low self-esteem (victim stance) or inflated self-esteem (offender stance), or they can circle around between these two positions. A diminished sense of self-worth can impact the manner in which an individual “lives life” in terms of self-care.

Falsification of Type

Carl Gustav Jung created the term Falsification of Type to describe a situation in which an individual developed and/or used skills that were outside his/her area of greatest natural preference. In his writing, Dr. Jung stated that the excessive/prolonged use of non-preferred skills was a serious problem that had both practical and psychological ramifications. In her research, Dr. Katherine Benziger expanded on Dr. Jung’s concept and connected falsification of type to a condition of prolonged adaption as identified through the BTSA (Benziger Thinking Styles Assessment). Benziger stated the following consequences of prolonged adaption/falsifying type:

The immediate results tend to be that second for second the brain requires more oxygen, demands more glucose, uses more energy, and can work up to 100 times harder
The short term results tend to be increased irritability, headaches, and difficulty in mastering new tasks
The long term results include exhaustion, depression, lack of joy, a homeostatic imbalance involving oxygen and glucose, premature aging of the brain, and a vulnerability to illness.

Based on PET Scans (Positron Emission Tomography), Dr. Richard Haier of San Diego estimated that the brain may need to work 100 times harder (using much more oxygen and energy second per second) when an individual develops and uses skills outside of his/her area of natural efficiency (e.g., brain lead). Over time, by virtue of the increased energy expenditure, falsifying type may be considered to be a major life stressor.

As Benziger, McGraw, Taylor, and others have observed, human beings are perhaps healthiest, happiest, and most successful when they can use and be rewarded for using their own innate giftedness. If this does not occur and one’s brain is forced to spend large amounts of time functioning outside of natural preference, the individual may experience chronic anxiety and may eventually develop and exhibit a somewhat predictable set of symptoms (e.g., PASS). The severity of symptoms likely has to do with the length of time the person has spent in prolonged adaption and the degree of his/her excessive adaption.

The 20:80 Rule

It has been said that most stressors generally interact with the brain in a predictable ratio. Sometimes referred to as the 20:80 rule, it states that:

• 20% of the adverse effects to the brain and body is due to the stressor itself

• 80% of the adverse effects is related to one’s own perception of the stressor and its consequences

The effects of prolonged adaption/falsifying type may significantly exceed the typical 20% effect to the brain/body. This seems likely given that this form of stress involves not only external/environmental triggers but the rate at which the brain itself must work (up to 100 times harder) in order to accomplish the desired tasks. Prolonged adaption/falsification of type can be a serious and potentially life-threatening stressor. Over time, it may contribute to an increased risk for self-medication (altering neurochemistry) through addictive behaviors.

Resolve Excessive/Prolonged Adaption

The cost of prolonged adaption is high! Therefore it is important to identify and resolve it. There are strategies you can implement to manage your energy expenditures more efficiently, and enhance your likelihood of success. These include:

For immediate success and increased self-esteem:

• Match the majority of your life’s activities to what your brain does easily

• Develop hobbies that use your innate giftedness

• Spend time with friends who have similar preferences

• Select a role model, one with similar innate giftedness whose life demonstrates health and balance

For long-term success and thriving:

• Find a mentor to help you develop skills in areas of nonpreference, as needed

• Select a coach who has opposite preferences to advise you

• Partner with a person who has complementary preferences—value, listen, learn from his/her strengths

• Sandwich nonpreferred activities between those that are more energy efficient for your brain

Thriving means flourishing. It is as advanced beyond surviving as the ocean is removed from the tiny prairie pond. In order to thrive you need to be in an environment that promotes your ability to be who you are innately, and you need to develop, use, and be rewarded for using skills that match your innate giftedness. Ultimately, your goal is to spend the majority of your time in activities that are energy efficient and easy for your brain to complete.

Awareness is the first step on the continuum of positive change. Recognizing the high cost of falsifying type to one’s health and overall success in life may motivate some individuals to begin an exciting personal growth journey. Preventing/reversing prolonged adaption—by identifying, honoring, owning, and living one’s own innate giftedness—is a prescription for thriving!

The famous lines from Hamlet are as profound today as they were in Shakespeare’s time: To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to anyone.

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Send email to Dr. Taylor at thebrain@arlenetaylor.org