How
Vulnerable are You to Stress?
Nearly half of
all Americans suffer some kind of
stress, according to
the American Institute of
Stress.
Stress has been
linked to all the leading causes
of death - heart
disease, cancer and
suicide.
The following
test was developed by
psychologists Lyle H. Miller
and
Alma Dell Smith at Boston
University Medical Center.
Score each item
from 1 (almost always) to 5
(never), according to how
much of the time each statement
applies to you.
-
I eat at
least one hot, balanced meal a
day.
-
I get seven
to eight hours sleep at least
four nights a week.
-
I give and
receive affection
regularly.
-
I have at
least one relative within 50
miles on whom I can
rely.
-
I exercise
to the point of perspiration
at least twice a week.
-
I smoke
less than a half a pack or
cigarettes a day.
-
I take
fewer than five alcoholic
drinks per week.
-
I am the
appropriate weight for my
height.
-
I have an
income adequate to meet basic
expenses.
-
I get
strength from my religious
beliefs.
-
I have one
or more friends to confide in
about personal matters.
-
I have a
network of friends and
acquaintances.
-
I regularly
attend club or social
activities.
-
I am in
good health (including
eyesight, hearing,
teeth).
-
I am able
to speak openly about my
feelings when I'm angry or
worried.
-
I have
regular conversations with the
people I live with about
domestic problems,
including chores, money
and daily living
issues.
-
I do
something for fun at least
once a week.
-
I am able
to organize my time
effectively.
-
I drink
fewer than three cups of
coffee (or tea or soda) a
day.
-
I take
quiet time for myself during
the day.
TOTAL: To find out your score, add up
the figures and subtract 20. Any number over 30
indicates a vulnerability to stress. You are seriously
vulnerable if your score is between 50 and 75, and extremely
vulneralbe if it is over 75.
Source: The Stress Audit,
developed by Lyle H. Miller and Alma Dell Smith, 1993
Biobehavioral Associates, Brookline, Mass.
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