Stress Test

How does the stress test work?

This is test with 4 sections that was designed to assess how stressed one person might be as it covers many of the life areas and signs of this contemporary affection. The formwill then display a percentage of stress symptoms and also a status description. All you have to do is choose the stress symptoms you have experienced by ticking on them and you can choose as many as you want and then press the “Test Stress Level” button.

The four sections of the stress test, each containing 12 signs, are the following:

• Emotional Stress related to emotional feelings such as: loneliness, increased frustration, overwhelmed reactions, agitation, irritability or anxiety.
• Habitual Stress in connection to behavioral actions such as: changes in diet, insomnia, isolation, impulsivity, carelessness, nightmares or nervous habits.
• Physical Stress related to physical status such as: frequent pains, headaches, rapid heartbeat, heartburn, allergy attacks, tremors or even dry mouth.
• Cognitive Stress in connection to physical status such as: lack of concentration, poor judgment, trouble learning, reduced efficiency, constant worry, pessimism, difficulty in making decisions, panic attacks, obsessive behavior, rapid speech or even frequent lying.

Example message

Presence of symptoms: 22.22% - Possible stress

• Based on your answers on the four sections of the test it is unlikely that you undergo any relevant stress related symptoms. However it seems that there are a few things that bother you and you should take a look at it and search for a professional assessment of your mental and physical health especially if what you are experiencing now seems to be getting worse in time.

Bad VS Good stress

We should start by defining what is stress and then work our way around the mechanisms that our bodies have to respond to stressors.

Discerning between good and bad stress is a perception matter and even we can’t always tell if the pressure we are feeling in regard to a certain situation is helping us build character or is eating us alive. Neither does the body, as it experiences the same response no matter what kind of stress we are under.

The response of the human body to stress, the fight or flight response, has multiple directions, like the hormonal one that triggers a surge in adrenalin or the increase in heart beat and blood pressure.

Good stress is motivating and uses the bodily reactions to increase concentration and awareness while bad stress is the one that causes you to feel overwhelmed and in general anxious. The first one, such as exam or daily tasks related stress or that of bringing a child into the world are part of our lives and can even bring satisfactions while the second type, if not managed correctly will only strain our bodies and bring health problems.

Amongst the benefits of having a bit of productive stress in our lives, there is to be said that it can even boost the immune system, protect the heart and even improve memory. However, long time stress will consume your body and no benefits can be listed here.

Signs you are under a lot of stress

It is essential to be able to understand what causes you to be stressed and how you react to main stressors in your life. Feeling tired or anxious are just some of the effects as there are other symptoms.

- Body aches, especially head and back aches

- Autoimmune diseases flare up

- Getting sick easier i.e catching colds

- High blood pressure

- Sleep troubles

- Chronic fatigue

- Changes in appetite

- Anxiety

- Irritability

- Trouble focusing

Stress management

Most of us are probably searching for ways to relieve stress but we often conclude that getting some time off or trying to relax during the weekend is good enough. However, there are many techniques and simple advice you can apply to control and even prevent stressors in your life. Let’s take it step by step and see which some of them are:

First you need to identify the sources of stress you are most experiencing. Some of them might be easy to pin point while in regard to others you will have to dig deeper. Thing of what makes you worry or which are the moments when you feel overwhelmed. Check whether these are things that go back in time and that you confront frequently or not or whether there is something that is bothering you know but you are aware it is temporary.

Secondly, take a look at your reactions when under stressing situations and see whether there is any room for a change on your behalf. Maybe there are some things you are doing, consciously or not to make matters worse, like procrastinating and then going under pressure because of deadlines. Once you checked what aggravates it, then is time to look at what makes you feel good in stressful situations and see what coping mechanism you have developed.

Even coping mechanisms need to be analyzed because some of them might be good for yourself while others might have a negative effect on your health overall. For instance, if you are blowing off steam while being stressed by smoking, drinking or eating too much, there are high chances you are coping in an unhealthy way and you predispose yourself to other health effects.

There are certain mechanisms you can apply to manage stress, from avoiding or altering what pressures you to changing your reaction, either by adapting or accepting what is stressing you. For instance, if you know you are always procrastinating and get to do work right before the deadline, then you might want to try and tackle work earlier, one bit at a time. Or if an encounter with someone is putting you under considerate amount of stress then you might want to analyze why you are feeling that way and then even try to alter the situation, for instance if it is impossible to avoid that person or you are even working with them, then you could set certain boundaries for communication or set meetings on a neutral field or somewhere you feel comfortable.

Last but not least you need to make room for relaxation in your life. This doesn’t have to respect some general advice that would tell you need to do a certain thing or go have a massage to relax. You can do that of course but there are surely activities that make you feel good and that replenish your energy.

Maybe try and go out with your friends, spend time outside, go for a run if sweating out tension works for you. Make time to savor a cup of coffee or a desert, read a book, watch a movie or listen to music on your own. Don’t forget that it is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle so get enough rest, eat your meals and even try to reduce caffeine or cigarettes if these are unnecessary agitators for you.