©Arlene R. Taylor PhD

In the mid '70s after experiencing first-hand the exhaustion of burnout, Taylor became even more interested in the concept of energy. With increased awareness due to her own experience, she began to interview individuals who attended her brain programs, some reporting symptoms that were similar to those she had experienced. 

In talking with these people, Taylor found that some had suspected PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Their respective physicians, however, had indicated that the although many of their reported symptoms did, to some extent, mirror PTSD, they were “not classic” for the syndrome. There were two notable exceptions: there were no specific incidents that could have served to trigger the symptoms (e.g., rape, military service in a war zone, catastrophic illness, acts-of-God environmental events), and flashbacks did not occur.

Common Themes

Gradually, Taylor identified a collection of symptoms that seemed to be exhibited fairly consistently, although the actual level of symptomatology varied depending on the individual and his/her own personal history. A common theme began to emerge from evaluating 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 and they frequently reported feeling exhausted.

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 one or more assessments: the Ned Herrmann HBDI, the Myers-Briggs MBTI, the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, the Blitchington and Cruise Temperament Inventory, Johnson-O’Connor Aptitude Testing, the Benziger Thinking Styles Assessment, the Arno Temperament Analysis Profile, and so on. While able to learn more about themselves through these modalities, participants indicated that the assessment results didn’t seem representative of who they thought they were at their core—innately. That is, the results often indicated that significant skills had been achieved in tasks that were disliked, dreaded, or regularly procrastinated. Furthermore, they frequently experienced fatigue during and/or at the completion of those same tasks.

This further reinforced Taylor’s perception that the energy drain reported by these individuals might be related to the types of tasks they were asking their brains to accomplish and the relative amount of time spent on these energy-intensive tasks.

Individuals who exhibited some, but not all, of the collection of symptoms often reported that portions of their lives were working quite well, while other portions were not. When they were engaged in tasks that matched what their brains did energy-efficiently, 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 begun to notice some decrease after engaging in specific tasks. In general, the longer the individuals had spent doing these types of tasks, the more symptomatology they reported.

Eight Symptoms of PASS

For purposes of describing this set of symptoms in a more formal manner and sharing her work with others, Taylor arrived at the acronym Prolonged Adaptive Stress Syndrome or PASS. 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 a person into a state of protective alertness. The additional energy expenditure to enlarge the brain’s metaphoric opening also may contribute to fatigue.

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 chronic disease.

4.    Interference with Brain Function

Interferencewith functions of the frontal lobes may show up in a variety of ways. The individual may experience a decrease in artistic or creative competencies (e.g., writer’s block, difficulty brainstorming options, diminished problem-solving skills). Or may experience interference with the ability to make logical or rational decisions, exhibit a tendency toward increased injuries due to cognitive impairment, or notice that one's thinking 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 skin wrinkling!).

7.    Discouragement or Depression

Conserve/Withdraw is a reaction form that the brain may use when an event or situation seems overwhelming and for which there seems no ready solution. Over time this metaphorical state of hibernation from life can lead to discouragement and to a sense of hopelessness. Over time, the discouragement can lead to the development of depression or exacerbation existing 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 is believed to contribute to discouragement and depression. (Two other reaction forms are Fight/Flight (which males are more likely to exhibit) and Tend/Befriend (which females are more likely to exhibit).

8.    Self-Esteem Issues

Over time, a lack of success in life, as well as the cumulative impact of 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 occur when a person is working very hard to be successful but is performing activities that are energy-exhausting and that contribute to fatigue and (eventually) to mistakes in performance. A diminished sense of self-worth can also impact the manner in which an individual “lives life” in terms of self care.

Stress Equation

It has been said that stressors generally interact with the brain in a predictable ratio. The 20:80 Rule, as it is sometimes referred to, 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 the weight or value ascribed to it

It is possible that the adverse affects on the brain and body resulting from excessive adapting that lead to PASS symptoms may exceed the typical 20%. This seems likely, given that this form of stress involves not only external and environmental triggers, but the rate at which the brain itself must work, and the amount of energy that must be expended in order to accomplish the desired tasks. Therefore, this mismatch between one’s innate giftedness and the way in which the individual is actually living on a daily basis can be a serious and potentially life-threatening stressor. Over time, this type of stressor situation may contribute to an increased risk of self-medicating (altering one’s own brain chemistry) through addictive behaviors.