Chapter 18: Mental Kudzu

There is no worse creator of stress than waiting. Obviously, the immediate threat of pain, injury, or death to oneself or one’s loved ones will jumpstart a parasympathetic response. But in order for something to be called “stress” or “anxiety” it has to include the time to think about whatever terrible potentiality there might be. This is particularly true when there is nothing a person can do to distract themselves. Give a person time and something to worry about, and the mind can develop a laser focus and fantastic powers of premonition. Oh, and all of this will generally make the thinker miserable.