A Psychologist Shares 5 Subtle Ways to Measure Stress
Staying out of the red light zone
“Stress” might be therapy’s most frequently used word.
I’m stressed. My partner’s stressed. We’re under lot of stress right now. I’m not good with stress. And so on.
We all know that a certain level of stress is good for us — it’s the bridge between anxiety and excitement. It can be motivating, helping us to perform at our best.
However, too much stress comes with a hefty price tag. As is well documented, it’s the precursor to a whole raft of physical and mental health problems.
So it’s important to keep an eye on your stress levels, to know when the red warning lights are flashing.
“Stress acts as an accelerator: it will push you either forward or backward, but you choose which direction.”
―Chelsea Erieau
Sorry, it’s not fatigue
Yes, fatigue is often the first sign that stress levels are spinning out of control — good old physical and mental exhaustion.
But the problem with fatigue is that it’s a symptom for everything. Well, maybe not everything — but it’s close.
