To win the stress game, you will need the vital information illustrated in this story.

One day, we have a huge argument and you get very upset. A week later, when you see me coming down the street, there is a sense of fear, panic, and apprehension; you want to avoid contact. 

You begin mentally rehearsing what to say. To your surprise, instead of continuing the fight, as in the last encounter, I put on a friendly face. In that moment, your planned speeches fall apart, leaving you flat-footed and silently upset. 

On this occasion, I did nothing wrong, but you reacted as though I did.

A few days later, as you see me coming in the distance you begin overreacting again. Little do you realize that looking at me with yesterday's unforgiving eyes has predisposed you to become emotionally upset, this time, without any cause.

Because of this conditioning, something bad is about to happen to your future. 

As I get closer, you are shocked to realize that the individual you are ready to hurt, and who makes you so fearful or hateful, is not me at all, but rather someone who resembles me.

The psychological term for this phenomenon is, “transference,” which, for you, is about to form the basis of what is called, “post-traumatic stress syndrome,” a disorienting over-sensitivity to hostile memories of similar people, places and things.

"Stress evolves through unnecessary emotions, into a legion of sufferings, which, in turn, may lead to heart attacks, strokes, violence, and family tragedies – even to war."

Yesterday's failure to cope always compounds as today's sensitivity to stress. Resentment is the hidden reason why stress has become so destructively overwhelming. I know you believe that resentment is natural; it is not. The sooner you understand this, the better.

Behind the evolving sensitivity to all stresses, no matter what form they may take, is the unfinished dirty business of resentment. A rarely seen “intimidator spirit” lurks behind the foliage of nature, enslaving us all with our stress responses. 

Stress evolves through unnecessary emotions, into a legion of sufferings, which, in turn, may lead to heart attacks, strokes, violence, and family tragedies – even to war. 

An uncontrollable stress reaction represents the loss of sovereign control. Becoming upset trying to regain control is like throwing fat on the fire in order to extinguish the flames.

Resentment is hidden hate that you never see until it's too late; the antithesis of Christ-like patient endurance that would otherwise give you mastery over life's trials and tribulations. 

If you choose to remain stubborn about this matter of hostility and continue to harbor secret resentments, then, so be it, suffer the deadly consequences from what appears to be chemical imbalances and natural causes.

Evil, operating through the nature of people, places and things will continue to promote and exploit an emotional state that you think is “only natural.”

Therefore, the vital information you need is to patiently endure the smallest slights in order to keep those ugly forces from getting inside your head.