Just How Stressed Are You?

A couple weekends ago, I had a vendor booth at a school carnival - the Unchained volunteer crew and I were giving free stress assessments. And I was doing some unscientific research. I figured the demographic mix would allow me to apply my observations to the general public.

My findings:
• Most people recognize that they suffer from stress
• Nearly everyone underestimates how much stress affects them
• A few people are in total denial of stress

One woman told me, very seriously, that she had no stress in life whatsoever, just panic attacks once in a while. Uh-huh. There was no polite way to respond, so I gave her a non-committal "Mmm," and watched her go her merry, if deluded, way.

But it supported my observation that nearly everyone underestimates the impact of stress.

Take a look at the following groups of events. If you've experienced any of them in the past year, or know you'll be dealing with them within the next 6 months, the specific item will apply. Most events have a number range - use the higher number if the event affects/affected you more and the lower number if it won't be/wasn't that bad. Jot down a number for every event that applies to you.

• 100 - Death of a spouse

• 60 to 80 - Death of a parent, separation or divorce, jail term, or death of close family member

• 45 to 55 - Major personal injury or illness, marriage, fired at work, buying a home, became engaged to be married, or serious illness or injury in family

• 30 to 40 - Pregnancy, sexual health issues, gain of new family member, change in financial state, death of close friend, change to different line of work, or facing foreclosure or in debt between $30,000 and $75,000

• 25 to 29 - Change in responsibilities at work, outstanding personal achievement, one spouse begins or ends work/retires, begin/graduate college, addiction to tobacco/drugs/alcohol, change in living conditions, move of more than 500 miles, or change in personal habits

• 19 to 24 - Trouble with boss, mandatory change in work hours, being bullied at work or school, change in church activities, or change in social/leisure/recreational activities

• 15 to 18 - Belittling or verbally abusive spouse, in debt between $10,000 and $30,000, change in sleeping habits or < 6 hours nightly, change in eating habits, micromanaged at work, repression of emotion or personality at work, or suppressing wants or needs to make someone else happy

• 11 to 14 - Pressured by time and performance standards, vacation, spending major holiday alone or away from family, unable to meet goals, living or working in overcrowded conditions, daily commute of over 1 hour each way, or minor violation of the law

• 7 to 10 - Spiritual discontent, lack of control over work, feeling pressure of responsibilities, limited access to information, relationship problems, fear of personal rejection, root canal or other major dental work, or legalistic school/family environment

• 4 to 6 - Prolonged exposure to high volumes of noise/music, poor posture, seasonal allergies, or chronic improper diet (daily fast food?)

How to score: add up your numbers for a (very) rough estimate of your stress.

Less than 150 points: You're facing everyday stressors and handling them just fine. Make sure you have a few options when life throws you a curveball, but don't stress (ha ha) about it!

150 to 199 points: There's a potential for crisis looming on your horizon. You have enough stress that you have a 33% chance of experiencing stress-related physical symptoms, both now and within the next year or so. I bet you already have the occasional stress-related symptom. (High blood pressure, headaches including migraines, heartburn, "tummy troubles" including ulcers, chest pain, insomnia, neck pain, compulsive over-eating and obesity or loss of appetite, grinding teeth, increased smoking and/or caffeine consumption, chronic fatigue, decreased sex drive, and a compromised immune system resulting in more viral and fungal infections.)

200 to 299 points: You're having a rough time, aren't you? You have a 50% chance of exhibiting stress-related symptoms both now and within the next two years, stemming from your current stress. But you probably already have at least one of the above symptoms pretty regularly. Beside those, be cautious about heart disease, cancer, lung and breathing problems, hypertension and stroke, and ulcerative colitis. You may want to consider letting a mental health professional or coach help you incorporate stress management techniques into your daily life!

Over 300 points: Why are you still reading this? You're in the midst of a major life crisis, sweetheart. Besides the aggravation of regular symptoms, you have an 80% chance of a serious illness as a direct result of your stress at some point in the next two years. It's time for professional help. Start by making an appointment with your physician. Follow up with a mental health professional or life coach for stress reduction and management help.

Okay, so to recap, you can admit there's stress in your life, and be in denial about what it's doing to you. But when you have chronic headaches, ulcers, fatigue, grinding teeth, viral infections, and whatnot (or worse), don't say you weren't warned.

Accumulated stress IS bigger than you are, no matter how tough, how in denial, how strong-willed you think you are. And it CAN kill you, or at least make your life even more miserable.

I'm not just preaching; I've been there. (Spoiler alert: coaches aren't born with some freakish immunity to life's problems.) I've been blessed to have known some very cool coaches, and long story short - I manage stress now, now the other way 'round. You can, too.

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