Hans Selye, a researcher, coined the term "stress," and made the distinction between stress and distress. Distress is when we have so much going on internally or externally that our mental and emotional resources are overwhelmed. We all know what it's like to have a deadline for a project, a loved one sick, the car break down, and, as a result, be irritable or exhausted. This kind of trouble, if it continues for a period of time, will begin to affect not only our mental health, but our physical health. This is what all the talk about stress is addressing.

Believe it or not, everyday stress can be a good thing. If we just coast through life, we don't learn anything. With no challenges, no obstacles to overcome, we don't develop new ways of dealing with things. Think of the old adage, "Necessity is the mother of invention." Every discovery was created to fill a need and deal with a problem.

The telephone makes it easier for us to communicate. When it was first developed, people couldn't see a need for one in every house. Now, many people can't imagine being without one for even a second. I'm not going to comment on whether cell phones are a good or bad thing. It's just that the invention of the telephone originally was created to fill a need.

The way we get physically stronger is to exercise. When we lift weights, do yoga, or hike, we're stressing and stretching our muscles. If we don't do that, then we lose the ability to get around. In much the same way, we evolve by stretching ourselves. As long as we do the same thing every day, we don't expand.

About twenty-five years ago, I got involved in a multitude of organizations. I had no personal time and was doing too much. It caused me to go into distress, and my health began to suffer. However, it was also a wondrous time as it helped me overcome personal limitations and expand spiritually. Because I was willing to stretch myself, I reaped enormous benefits.

The problem comes when we get our schedules so packed that we don't have time for ourselves or things that bring us joy. Even a plant needs space to be able to grow and expand its roots. When we don't have enough breathing room to process what's going on in our lives, then we go into a distressed mode because we're simply running from crisis to crisis. Even when we exercise, we have to let our bodies rest and recuperate from their workout to actually build muscle tissue.

Beginning to feel overwhelmed, getting sick, and feeling exhausted is a good signal it's time to pull back. When I found I was over involved, I eliminated several of the activities I'd been involved in. Later on, I rejoined a couple of groups, but made sure I could say "no" if I began to feel overwhelmed again.

When we're beginning to feel stagnant, bored or stuck, then it may be a sign for us to try a new path and step out of our comfort zone. During that stressful period of my life, some of my activities included holding responsible positions in a couple of community organizations, acting in theater productions, and helping with all aspects of publicity for the theater company. All of it was new to me. But by stretching myself, it gave me access to new internal resources, confidence in my abilities and broke through internal blocks.

Answer: I completely support taking medication to start feeling better. Ernest Holmes, founder of Science of Mind said something to the effect of, "You might as well feel better while you're getting better." The medication will give extra energy to help think straight. And until that can happen, healing can't happen.

All cultures, religions and mythologies share common ideas and stories. These common threads stretch back to the beginning of humanity, and will continue to humanities end.

In "The Mythic Image" Joseph Campbell uses art to explore this thread that runs through us all. The stories and ideas that we all share are just as powerful today as they were five millennia ago, and this is the time frame covered by this book. "The Mythic Image" is a must read, not only for a better understanding of yourself, but by writers, producers, musicians and all creative people. George Lucas used this book to create the framework for the Star Wars Trilogy, as did many other screenwriters. It's required reading at most movie studios and screenwriting classes. Jerry Garcia of the band The Grateful Dead also used this book for inspiration in his music. The success of these creative people shows just how powerful this common thread is, and how deeply it touches each of us.

The book starts out by exploring how mythology and dreams co-mingle, and how dreams help to create mythologies. The book then goes on to explore the two types of myths, the simpler oral myths, and the more complex mythologies of Buddhism, Islam and Christianity.

Modern religious mythologies are further examined by comparing the oriental religions with the occidental ones. He further explores religious mythologies by looking at their psychological and spiritual components.

Throughout this book Mr. Campbell uses almost 450 illustrations, from various countries and times, to more clearly show and explain how the same ideas keep reappearing all over the world, and from the beginning of history to today.

In this book, as in many of his other books, Mr. Campbell shows that the religions and mythologies of the world are more alike than dissimilar. He shows how one religion incorporates ideas from other religions, and how one religion morphs into another. More than anything else, he will show you that all the people of the world share a bond, and a similar way of thinking that brings us closer together, and helps us realize we are truly, one family.

If you want to better understand yourself, the world, mythologies and religions, then you must read "The Mythic Image."

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