If you are suffering from high levels of stress, you are not alone. According to the Health and Safety Executive, an estimated 19 million people in the UK experience stress related health problems each year, resulting in the loss of 2 million working days at an annual cost to industry and commerce of at least £4.5 billion.

In Medieval times “stress” described the type of physical torture needed to extract a confession. Torturers used the thumbscrew to produce compression stress and the rack tensile stress.

Today, the thumbscrew and rack have been replaced by excessive workloads, information overload, financial worries, family rows, traffic congestion, aggressive confrontations and relentless deadlines.

Assessing Your Stress

  • Outbursts of anger.

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Loss of sence of humor.

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Sleep Problems

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Loss of appetite or eating more than usual, especially sweet things.

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Feeling of sadness

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Difficulties in concentration or decision-making

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Decline in or loss of sex drive

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Loss of enjoyment in activities the previously gave pleasure

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Constant deadline pressures

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Feelings of being under appreciated at work or at home

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Sense of life running out of control

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

  • Being unable to cope with expectations

(a) Frequently, (b) Occasionally, (c) Seldom, (d) Never

How to Score

Score 3 for each (a); 2 for each (b); 1 for each (c) and 0 for each (d) response.

What Your Stress Score Reveals

30 +: Very high. You are experiencing excessive stress and should take prompt and effective steps to reduce this burden before it can cause lasting damage. Relaxation training, breath control and Mind Travel could all help here.

20 – 29:  Moderately high. Try and find ways of removing some of these problems from your life and mastering procedures that will help you take a more relaxed approach to life. Check out the procedures on this site to which might prove most beneficial.

10 – 19: Although your overall stress levels are not especially high, there are clearly occasions on which these rise to a potentially damaging extent. Try to identify such occasions and take practical steps not to become so wound up by the situation.  This site can offer some practical ways of dealing with especially stressful moment in your life.

Less than 10: Your stress levels seem to be within manageable proportions. Ensure that you stay in control of potentially stressful events by preparing yourself with some of the anxiety and stress management procedures taught on this site.

Fortunately there are practical steps you can take not just to reduce negative stress but transform it into a positive force for good in your life. One of the keys here may be to discover how to manage your time.

Read more about The Stress & Time Connection