“This is a slight exaggeration on a basic theme in human experience… we cycle ‘back and forth’ between extremes. However, most of the time, those ‘extremes’ are relatively modest in degree. Under some circumstances, extremes are hyperbolized, and one of those situations is stress. Most of us have tendencies that approximate various mental disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder, etc. But, under ordinary conditions, these are not observable because their intensity is too subtle. Under conditions of sudden unexpected stress, or continuous stress, these occult features of our psyches, will be ‘surfaced’ and thus present their pathologies to ourselves and others in ways we cannot ignore. We should also realize that people who are already in cycles that express in ways that are obvious, may experience exacerbation of these symptoms under similar circumstances.”

— an intelligence agent