Is Stress Hurting You?
What makes it potentially dangerous is that we seem to take stress for granted, which means many have gradually adjusted to the physical and mental toll it can take on our bodies and minds.
If your job, relationships or life in general is particularly stressful, you may wonder whether this ongoing pressure you have to endure is hurting you in some way.
Will you be aware when the damage is irreparable before it's too late? Is your stress as bad as you think, or are you overreacting?
Take the Stress Test
Keep track of your answers
These are good questions. Answer 'yes' or 'no' to all of the following questions and keep track of your answers. Then total your scores in each section, as instructed, to see where you stand.
Routines and Habits
Personal stressors
1. My sleeping patterns have changed (I sleep a lot less, a lot more or at different times of the day.)2. My eating habits have changed (I eat a lot more, a lot less or under different circumstances, I have problems with digestion, pain in my stomach, etc.)
3. My weight, exercise or recreational activities have changed (I exercise less, I am obsessive about exercise, I've gained or lost a lot of weight, etc)
4. My social life has changed a lot (I go out less/more, talk on the phone less, don't feel like seeing anyone.)
Stress & Relaxation Explained DVD
An Introduction to Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques
Stress & Relaxation Explained: An Introduction to Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 02/22/2012)
Stress & Relaxation Explained is a comprehensive, humanistic approach to relaxation therapy and stress management techniques. Stress and anxiety are all around us - from the pressures of the competitive workplace, to our everyday obligations of home, family and finances.
Understanding the nature of stress and how it affects our mind, body and overall health is key to effectively managing and responding to it. Once you understand where stress comes from, its physiological effects, and how it affects our behavior, you will be able to more effectively utilize relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation and guided imagery - and their rejuvenating effects will be far more long-lasting.
This DVD explores all aspects of stress reduction, including: types of stress and causes; health risks; types of relaxation techniques and how the choose the best for you; real life case study and demonstrations of relaxation techniques; and a sample immersive, nature-based, guided relaxation experience in 5.1 surround sound.
Thoughts and Feelings
You're in control of these.
1. I'm tired all the time, I have no energy.2. I'm worried a lot.
3. I have knots in my stomach a lot.
4. I feel anxious even when nothing is happening.
5. I feel depressed or 'blue' a lot of the time.
6. I feel overwhelmed much of the time.
7. I cry too easily.
8. I don't laugh often anymore.
9. I don't care much about my appearance or what people think anymore - I'm just tired of trying to please people.
10. I often feel like my brain is racing in 20 different directions at once.
Relationship Problems
We all have them
1. I have problems with my boss or co-workers at work.2. I have problems with my girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse, etc.
3. I have problems with my children.
4. I have problems with in-laws.
5. I have problems with others (friends, neighbors, club members, associates).
6. I often find myself in arguments with others, or feeling angry or hurt by the behavior of others.
7. I feel like I never have time for myself.
8. It's hard for me to focus or concentrate.
9. I miss a lot of appointments, or I'm late a lot because I have too much to do.
10. I find it difficult to say 'no' when someone asks me to do something, even if I don't have the time to do what they're asking.
Take a break and watch this video
FUNNY stress management techniques
Changes or Life Events
This is a long one
1. I was recently separated or divorced.2. My child is having problems in school or in life in general.
3. I lost my job.
4. I've recently been ill or hospitalized.
5. A family member has recently been ill or hospitalized.
6. There has been a death in my family or in my circle of friends.
7. I'm having financial difficulty.
8. I'm having problems with sexual performance or in my sex life in general.
9. I, or someone in my family, have recently had legal problems or been in jail.
10. I recently moved or relocated or started in a new school or a new job.
11. I recently had a new addition to my family (child, relative moving in, new dog).
12. There is a lot of disruption where I live (new neighbors, increased noise level, crime, remodeling of home.
13. Our family or circle of friends doesn't seem to get together as often anymore.
14. I just got engaged, married or entered into a new intimate relationship.
15. I just got a promotion, raise or a lot more responsibility at work.
16. I just took on a lot of new responsibility at school, in the community or with family (caring for an older relative, etc.)
17. I just retired.
18. My child just left for school, got married or moved out of the house.
19. I just changed careers.
20. My spouse just started working outside the home, or got a new job.
21. I just took on a large loan or financial responsibility.
22. I just suffered a major setback (default on a mortgage, repossessed car, didn't get the promotion I wanted, failed the bar exam, dropped out of school, etc.)
23. I am pregnant or about to adopt a child.
24. I just got back together with my spouse or girlfriend, boyfriend (after separation or divorce).
25. I'm working or studying a lot more hours during the week.
Stress Guides You Should Check Out
We need all the help we can get
Now Compile Your Score
Did you answer every question?
Okay, you've jotted down your answers to all the questions. Now add up your score and see the results.
Routines and Habits
Add up your score in this category
If you didn't answer 'yes' to any of these questions, skip to the next section and continue adding your totals.If you answered 'yes' to 1 of these questions, add 2 points to your score.
If you answered 'yes' to 2 of these questions, add 5 points to your score.
If you answered 'yes' to 3-4 of these questions, add 10 points to your score
Thoughts and Feelings
Add up your score for this category
If you didn't answer 'yes' to any of these questions, skip to the next section and continue adding your totals.If you answered 'yes' to 1 of these questions, add 2 points to your score.
If you answered 'yes' to 3-4 of these questions, add 5 points to your score.
If you answered 'yes' to 5-6 of these questions, add 10 points to your score
If you answered 'yes' to more than 6 of these questions, add 20 points to your score
Relationship Problems
Add up your score in this category
If you didn't answer 'yes' to any of these questions, skip to the next section and continue adding your totals.If you answered 'yes' to 1 of these questions, add 2 points to your score.
If you answered 'yes' to 3-4 of these questions, add 5 points to your score.
If you answered 'yes' to 5-6 of these questions, add 10 points to your score
If you answered 'yes' to more than 6 of these questions, add 20 points to your score
Changes or Life Events
Add up your score for this category
If you didn't answer 'yes' to any of these questions, you can now begin to total your scores for each section and proceed to the TOTALS section below, to see how you did.If you answered 'yes' to 1 of these questions, add 1 point to your score.
If you answered 'yes' to 3-4 of these questions, add 3 points to your score.
If you answered 'yes' to 5-6 of these questions, add 5 points to your score
If you answered 'yes' to 6-8 of these questions, add 10 points to your score
If you answered 'yes' to 9-12 of these questions, add 20 points to your score
If you answered 'yes' to 13-15 of these questions, add 30 points to your score
If you answered 'yes' to more than 15 of these questions, add 50 points to your score
Now Add Up Your Totals
And check out your overall score.
Total your points for each section and add them together. Now look at the list below to determine your stress levels.
0-10: Your long-term stress levels are low. You're doing just fine!
11-30: You have moderate levels of long-term stress in your life. You should look for ways to reduce stress (time management, more aggressive negotiation of deadlines, training in conflict management, etc.)
31-60: Your long-term stress levels are a real concern. Review the areas in which you feel the most stress and work on those to improve your quality of life. Consider a meditation, exercise program, and/or counseling to help you reduce stress more quickly and analyze the areas you may need help so you can set goals and work toward reducing stress in the short term and long term.
Over 60: Your long-term stress levels are VERY HIGH. You should immediately assess the areas of stress in your life, talk to friends, family and co-workers, and begin a program to reduce AND to handle stress better. Consider exercise, meditation, counseling and other stress management techniques as appropriate (time management, training in conflict management and assertiveness, career change or counseling, etc.)
Related Articles
On Dealing With Stress
- Easy Ways to Cope WIth Stress
- Here's my lens that provides some easy solutions to dealing with stress.
- Stress Out of Control
- When stress is out of control, it takes over our lives and makes our days miserable.
- Online Councelors for Anxiety-Stress
- If you're really stressed, you can talk to a councelor online here.
- Managing Stress Starts With A Conscious Decision
- While it is very true stress in and of itself is not bad, if it becomes chronic or very intense, stress can lead to a host of serious physical conditions.
- Natural Cure for Depression
- If your stress is turning into depression, you might want to consider some natural cures.
- Guide to True Happiness
- Finding true happiness is certainly a great way to eliminate stress. We can find happiness right in our own home, our workplace, in school, in the company of our friends, etc. It's up to us to find the ways and means to achieve that happiness each of us seek and long for.
In Conclusion
Stress can be beat
As you assess your stress levels and consider options for dealing with your stress, remember that everyone is different. Each of us has a different capacity for handling and tolerating stress.If you have a high score because of temporary conditions that you KNOW will change soon, you need not be as concerned as if you have stress factors that are longer term.
These will, over time, affect your mental and physical health and your relationships, unless you address these stressors and find a way to deal with them or get rid of them.
by Maxxswan
I've been working from home, on and off, for the past 20 years or so, mostly as a writer, editor, publisher and graphic/web designer.
What's best a...
more »
- 6 featured lenses
- Winner of 9 trophies!
- Top lens » Camp Cooking and Supplies
Explore related pages
- Stress Buster Recipe - slow down, smell the roses! Stress Buster Recipe - slow down, smell the roses!
- Do You Need a Stress Test to Tell You to Change Your Life? Do You Need a Stress Test to Tell You to Change Your Life?
- STRESS - The EFFECTIVE CURE STRESS - The EFFECTIVE CURE
- Deal With Stress Deal With Stress
- "How To Organise Management Stress And Start Living!" "How To Organise Management Stress And Start Living!"
- Get out of Stress with great Meditation Techniques Get out of Stress with great Meditation Techniques
