{"id":921,"date":"2010-02-16T11:33:30","date_gmt":"2010-02-16T11:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/freshliving\/2010\/02\/quiz-are-you-super-stressed.html"},"modified":"2010-02-16T11:33:30","modified_gmt":"2010-02-16T11:33:30","slug":"quiz-are-you-super-stressed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/freshliving\/2010\/02\/quiz-are-you-super-stressed.html","title":{"rendered":"Quiz: Are You Super-Stressed?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all have stress in our lives, right?  And that’s as it should be–a moderate level of stress helps us do good things like strive to achieve at work, work to make relationships stronger, and–let’s not forget the fight-or-flight classic–run from any saber tooth tigers that might be chasing us.<\/p>\n

Chronic, unchecked stress, however, is a different story.  When our “fight-or-flight” reflexes are in perpetual hyper-drive, we suffer from everything from depression to chronic pain to serious illnesses.  <\/p>\n

Roberta Lee, MD, has a terrific new book out<\/a> that can help you cope if you have what she calls “SuperStress.”  We just published a lovely gallery of 11 tips for lowering SuperStress<\/a>, and below, she’s been kind enough to share a 5-minute, 20-question quiz to help you figure out if SuperStress is your diagnosis.  <\/p>\n

Fair warning, though–I just took the quiz and discovered myself to display all 5 “Types” of SuperStress below.  Sigh, we sensitivos are certainly on a journey, aren’t we.  Let’s keep on that journey, together.  Deal?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Do You Have SuperStress? Take the 5 Minute Quiz to
\nFind Out<\/b>
\nBy Roberta Lee M.D.,
\nAuthor of The SuperStress Solution<\/i><\/p>\n

The SuperStress Solution is all about understanding the toll stress
\ntakes on you personally and developing strategies for managing it. Once
\nyou are aware of the ways in which stress affects you and you begin to
\nfollow the steps of my solution, you’ll notice that the inevitable
\nstress in your life will affect you less both physically and
\nemotionally. With self-awareness comes stress resilience. In other
\nwords, the SuperStress Solution is a plan that is designed to work in
\nconditions where stress doesn’t just go away.<\/p>\n

Get started by
\nfilling out the following questionnaire. It won’t take much time at
\nall, but will help you better understand what you’re experiencing, and
\ndetermine your individual level and type of SuperStress so that you can
\npersonalize your management plans.<\/p>\n

Respond to each question, using the following 4-point scale:
\n0 = Never<\/b>
\n1 = Rarely<\/b>
\n2 = Sometimes<\/b>
\n3 = Often<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. How often do you feel like you are getting sick? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. How often are you eating on the run (at your desk working, while
      \ndriving or walking)? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. How often during meals and meetings do you respond to emails\/text
        \nmessages on your PDA or cell phone? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. How often do you skip meals because you are too busy to eat? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. How often do you feel that watching TV is the most relaxing
            \nactivity you do? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n
            1. How often are you forgetful? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                \n
              1. How often do you feel tired during the day? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                  \n
                1. How often do you feel that your life is out of control? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                    \n
                  1. How often do you have trouble focusing? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                      \n
                    1. How often do you lie awake at night ruminating? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                        \n
                      1. How often do you have a difficult time sitting still? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                          \n
                        1. How many times do you feel exhausted and can’t seem to recover —
                          \nno matter how much rest you get? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                            \n
                          1. How many times do you find yourself reading the same paragraph
                            \nover and
                            \nover and feeling increasingly frustrated that you just “don’t get it”?
                            \n____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                              \n
                            1. How often do feel like you are close to tears or sensitive to the
                              \ncriticism of others? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                \n
                              1. How often do you try to do everything yourself? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                  \n
                                1. How often do you feel you are fighting a losing battle trying to
                                  \nkeep
                                  \nup with your kids’ sports schedule, French lessons, dental appointments
                                  \nand homework or your own work deadlines?____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                    \n
                                  1. How often do you have two or more major problems that you can’t
                                    \nseem to resolve? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                      \n
                                    1. How often do you feel as if your stomach is tied up in knots? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                        \n
                                      1. How often are you canceling social engagements or family outings
                                        \nto finish a work project? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                          \n
                                        1. How often do you find yourself angry and annoyed with
                                          \nothers-including those at home? ____<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                          \nTHE RESULTS<\/b>
                                          \nAre you stressed?
                                          \nTally your answers to all 20 questions.
                                          \nBased on your total, see how you fall into the following categories:<\/p>\n

                                          Not stressed: <\/b>4 or less
                                          \nSomewhat stressed: <\/b>5-8
                                          \nStressed: <\/b>9-12
                                          \nSuperStressed: <\/b>12+<\/p>\n

                                          What stress type are you?<\/b>
                                          \nThere
                                          \nare generally five SuperStress personality types, each identifiable by
                                          \nthe way you behave and respond to stress. Many of you, however, may see
                                          \nthat your behavior corresponds to more than one type.<\/p>\n

                                          For each
                                          \ncategory below, tally your answers for the listed questions and circle
                                          \nthe one with the highest total. That is your stress type. In the case
                                          \nof a tie, your behavior may correspond to both stress types.
                                          \n
                                          \nProbably Not your type:<\/b> 0
                                          \nCould be your type:<\/b> 1- 2
                                          \nProbably your type:<\/b> 3-4<\/p>\n

                                          Total for questions 12 and 16 ___Type I<\/b>
                                          \nTotal for questions 13 and 17 ___Type II<\/b>
                                          \nTotal for questions 14 and 18 ___Type III<\/b>
                                          \nTotal for questions 15 and 19 ___Type IV<\/b>
                                          \nTotal for questions 11 and 20 ___Type V<\/b><\/p>\n


                                          \nType I: Burned Out, Exhausted, Numb, Depressed<\/b>
                                          \nDo
                                          \nyou find yourself struggling to keep your thoughts from drifting at
                                          \nmeetings or at home? Instead of enjoying your family after work, do you
                                          \nmore often long for the end of the day and a few minutes to yourself?
                                          \nIf the answers to these questions are yes then you may have developed
                                          \ninto a Type I: Burned Out, Exhausted, Numb and Depressed type.<\/p>\n

                                          Type II: Agitated, Can’t Concentrate, Overwhelmed by Life<\/b>
                                          \nIrritated
                                          \nand irritable to distraction? Do you have days when your agitation is
                                          \nso great that you’re distracted by your own restlessness? Are you
                                          \ndreaming of the days when sleep came easily to you, well then you are a
                                          \ntypical Type II.<\/p>\n

                                          Type III: Emotionally sensitive<\/b>
                                          \nType III
                                          \npeople are emotionally vulnerable or especially sensitive to criticism.
                                          \nThis person’s exhaustion has drained them of their sense of humor. They
                                          \ntend to be weepy or melancholy. If you find yourself in this
                                          \nassemblage, I’m guessing that every little stressor potentially finds
                                          \nits way directly to your stomach. Every knock to your self-esteem
                                          \ncreates an emotional turmoil that impacts your digestion.<\/p>\n

                                          Type IV: Driven, Controlling<\/b>
                                          \nIf
                                          \nyou’re a Type IV person, you are first-rate at setting a goal and going
                                          \nat it full steam ahead until that goal is reached. But there’s a flip
                                          \nside of that achievement: Type IVs are generally work-obsessed, so,
                                          \nafter a while, goal achievement, over-attention to detail, and a
                                          \ntendency toward micromanagement become the only way they can handle
                                          \nsituations that feel out of control.<\/p>\n

                                          Type V: Explosive, Can’t Slow Down<\/b>
                                          \nThere
                                          \nare many people in this world who are Type Vs, no matter what their
                                          \noccupation; people in whom SuperStress creates aggressive behavior and
                                          \nresults in a lack of resilience when it’s needed most. Type Vs
                                          \nessentially use every means possible to keep things going at an
                                          \nultrafast pace — living on coffee, caffeine enhanced colas or other
                                          \nstimulant providing, sugar laden foods. SuperStress creates a situation
                                          \nin which for this person there is little tolerance for mistakes. When
                                          \nthey do occur, mistakes often provoke an explosive — out of proportion
                                          \nto the issue at hand — reaction.<\/p>\n

                                          By helping readers identify
                                          \ntheir level and type of stress, The SuperStress Solution will provide
                                          \npersonalized strategies for managing it. The book contains a more
                                          \nextensive version of the questionnaire you just completed, which will
                                          \nenable readers to get even more tailored results. In addition, we’ll be
                                          \nallowing users to take the typing portion of the questionnaire online
                                          \nso they can easily tally their results and jump right into the 4-week
                                          \nSuperStress Solution program.<\/p>\n

                                          Take the longer quiz online at: www.SuperStressSolution.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
                                          \nTo reduce stress, and avoid SuperStress, try
                                          \nthis today:<\/p>\n

                                          Simple as it sounds; focused breathing — during which you think about
                                          \nyour breath as you inhale and exhale — is a very effective
                                          \nstress-management technique. A slow, full breath triggers physical and
                                          \ncognitive changes that promote relaxation. Deep breathing helps release
                                          \ntension and anxiety and is a great energizer because the deeper the
                                          \nbreath, the more your body is flooded with life-fueling oxygen. A full
                                          \nbreath begins with the diaphragm pushing downward so that the stomach
                                          \nextends out. As your lungs fill with air, your chest expands. When you
                                          \nexhale, the reverse occurs — your chest settles first and then your
                                          \nstomach.”<\/p>\n