Measure Your Stress
Did you know you can quantify your stress level? Stress may seem like something that you cannot measure, something only described. However, there are rating systems that can measure exactly how stressed you really are. This can be helpful in getting over stress as an effect of pressure in the work-place. If you know just what amount of stress you are enduring relative to other stressful situations, it can give you a sense of concrete problems and therefore it will be easier to handle.
It is also good to know your stress level because if it is very high, it could cause illness. Your number one priority should be to stay healthy and if pressure and this rating system could help find out if your stress is detrimental. In Louis S. Csoka’s, When the Pressure’s On, the author says, “A primary reason for the relationship between levels of stress and susceptibility to illness is that stress, especially from anxiety or worry, compromises the immune system, making you more vulnerable to illness and infection. The greater the stress the greater the likelihood of getting sick” (2016). In other words, stress is physically dangerous to the human body. This is not only harmful to your health but it may even cause time off work if an infection develops. This is why it is important to deal with stress rather than let it pile up. Stress should not be ignored for the sake of your own health.
The rating system called Holmes- Rahe Stress Scale shown Csoka’s When the Pressure’s On, is formatted with an event with a corresponding number equivalent to that quantity of stress. By adding up all the events that you may be going through you will end up with a number at the end. Below is a description of your results once completing the test.
As seen in the image, you can easily distinguish which grouping you belong in and whether to take serious action. This is very helpful to people struggling with stress and don’t have the right symptoms to tell if they need help.
References:
Csoka, L. (2016). When the Pressure’s On. New York : American Management Association, p.90.
