Stress
Most of us can manage varying amounts of pressure without feeling stressed. However, too much pressure, often caused by our own thinking patterns and life experiences, can overstretch our ability to cope leading to stress.
Symptoms of stress
How frequently do you find yourself experiencing such problems as headaches, going to sleep or staying asleep, unexplained muscle pain, jaw pain, uncontrolled anger, and frustration? Assess the frequency that you experience the common symptoms of stress below. Do you experience them almost all day, every day? Once or twice a day? 2-3 times per week? Once a week? Once a month? Never?
Stress Questionnaire
Because everyone reacts to stress in his or her own way, no one stress test can give you a complete analysis of your stress levels. This stress test is intended to give you an overview only. Answer yes or no to each of the questions below. Answer yes, even if only part of a question applies to you. Each "yes" is one point.
4 points or less: You are least likely to suffer from stress-related illness.
5-15 points: You are more likely to experience stress-related ill health (mental and/or physical).
16 points or more: You are the most prone to stress showing a great many traits or characteristics that are creating unhealthy behaviors. This means that you are also more likely to experience stress and stress-related illness like diabetes, irritable bowel, migraine headaches, back and neck pain, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, mental illness (depression, anxiety, etc.).
Review the questions in which you scored a "yes".
The services at Mettā Relaxation Co. were chosen for their ability to help alleviate stress. Schedule some relaxation time for yourself.
Symptoms of stress
How frequently do you find yourself experiencing such problems as headaches, going to sleep or staying asleep, unexplained muscle pain, jaw pain, uncontrolled anger, and frustration? Assess the frequency that you experience the common symptoms of stress below. Do you experience them almost all day, every day? Once or twice a day? 2-3 times per week? Once a week? Once a month? Never?
- Headaches
- Tense muscles - sore neck and back
- Fatigue
- Anxiety, worry, phobias
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Irritability
- Bouts of anger and/or hostility
- Boredom, depression
- Eating too much or too little
- Diarrhea, cramps, gas, constipation
- Restlessness, itching, tics
Stress Questionnaire
Because everyone reacts to stress in his or her own way, no one stress test can give you a complete analysis of your stress levels. This stress test is intended to give you an overview only. Answer yes or no to each of the questions below. Answer yes, even if only part of a question applies to you. Each "yes" is one point.
- I frequently bring work home at night.
- There are not enough hours in the day to do all the things that I must do.
- I deny or ignore problems in the hope that they will go away,
- I do everything myself to ensure it's done properly.
- I underestimate how long it takes to do things.
- I feel that there are too many deadlines in my work/life that are difficult to meet.
- My self confidence/self esteem is lower than I would like it to be.
- I frequently have guilty feelings if I relax and do nothing.
- I find myself thinking about problems even when I am supposed to be relaxing.
- I feel fatigued or tired even when I wake after an adequate sleep.
- I often finish other peoples sentences for them when they speak slowly.
- I have a tendency to eat, talk, walk and drive quickly.
- I have a desire to binge eat or skip meals.
- I feel irritated or angry if the car or traffic in front seems to be going too slowly.
- I become very frustrated at having to wait in line.
- If something or someone really annoys me, I will bottle up my feelings.
- When I play sports or games, I am very competitive and really want to win.
- I experience mood swings.
- I have difficulty making decisions.
- My concentration and memory is impaired.
- I find fault and criticize others rather than praise them.
- I appear to be listening, even though I am preoccupied with my own thoughts.
- My sex drive is lower.
- I grind my teeth.
- I have muscular pain, especially in my neck, head, lower back and shoulders.
- I am unable to preform tasks as well as I used to.
- My judgement is clouded.
- I have a greater dependency on alcohol, caffeine, nicotine or drugs.
- I don't have time for many interests/hobbies outside of work.
4 points or less: You are least likely to suffer from stress-related illness.
5-15 points: You are more likely to experience stress-related ill health (mental and/or physical).
16 points or more: You are the most prone to stress showing a great many traits or characteristics that are creating unhealthy behaviors. This means that you are also more likely to experience stress and stress-related illness like diabetes, irritable bowel, migraine headaches, back and neck pain, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, mental illness (depression, anxiety, etc.).
Review the questions in which you scored a "yes".
- See if you can reduce, change or modify this trait.
- Start with the ones that are the easiest and most likely to be successful for you.
- Only expect small changes in the beginning, it takes daily practice to make big changes.
- Support from friends and family will make the process easier.
The services at Mettā Relaxation Co. were chosen for their ability to help alleviate stress. Schedule some relaxation time for yourself.