Symptoms of Stress – Results
Understanding your scores
Once you have completed all three exercises, add the three totals together using the calculator below to get a combined score. This figure is the key to understanding your stress load. If you’ve landed here without having done the exercises click here to start from the beginning.
You may have scored evenly across all three sections but the likelihood is that you scored much higher in one. It is crucially important to be aware of this – if you know where your stress is coming from, it is a great deal easier to do something positive about it. The higher your tally, the more likely you are to be suffering from overload.
Scores
Over 150
If you scored over 150 and this is fairly representative of your situation over a period of years, or even just months, then your stress problem is quite severe. You are fast approaching ‘burnout’. If you do not do something to improve your damaging lifestyle immediately you could be on the way to a nervous breakdown or paving the way for illness. You would benefit from seeing your doctor or seeking help from a professional counsellor. You definitely need to follow some of the stress management exercises in Part Two.Between 110 and 149
Your stress levels are too high. You may be going through a crisis or major change in life. If so, do not worry too much as your body is designed for handling short-term stress and your score may simply represent such a period in your life. Try to focus on the issues that are causing you problems and try to deal with them one at a time or seek professional help from a counsellor. Choose the exercises in Part Two that are most appropriate to your situation - if you do not take positive action now, you could be putting your health at serious risk.Between 90 and 109
Your stress levels are moderate. You are not in the danger zone yet but could be if you do not take care. If you scored five in any area, you could be experiencing stress carried over from past events. Unresolved issues and unfinished business, which may have happened years before, can cause just as much stress as present issues. If this sounds familiar, try to identify and address the problems. If you are unhappy a bout tackling them on your own, then you may benefit from seeing a counsellor.Below 90
You show few signs of stress. This low score could mean that you have struck the right balance as you seem to be coping well with whatever stressors you encounter. But you must remember that his is only a reading for your present stress level so do not rest on your laurels. You're reading about stress management for a good reason, so be aware that something could happen next week which could send your score sky high. Your low score could also be a sign of being understressed; this can be as much of a problem as too much stress. Symptoms of this can include lethargy and boredom. If you feel this represents your situation, you may find it beneficial to add a little zip to your life by seeking out more stimulating experiences. But do read on - learning how to relax and understanding other stress management techniques will help you to build up your energy reserves for when you need them.In the next section, we'll learn about the benefits of making a stress diary.
