This episode breaks down the core components of our physical and psychological energy. We begin by defining Arousal as the preparatory state for all activity, and how trauma creates an extreme, mismatched system—a low baseline punctuated by intense fear.

We then explore Activity Level, the body’s freedom and agility, which is a key indicator of psychological health. You'll learn how this "activity" is the basis for all perception and how it’s divided into subtle "micro-activities" (like impulses) and larger "significant activities" (like behaviors).

Finally, we redefine Psychological Stress as the product of internal conflict. We move beyond simple pressure to understand stress as the "tug-of-war" between our own competing impulses, and contrast a child's curious, adaptive approach to stress with an adult's rigid, task-focused one.