STRESS IN THE CITY

Stress can be difficult to understand. The emotional chaos it causes can make our daily lives miserable. It can also decrease our physical health, sometimes drastically. Strangely, we are not always aware that we are under stress. The habits, attitudes, and signs that can alert us to problems may be hard to recognize because they have become so familiar.

Find your stress level by completing this test. We'll reveal 5 questions each day for you to answer. Keep your score, and we'll give you your results at the end of the week!

Each ‘yes’ answer is worth 1 point.

Do you frequently...

1. Neglect your diet?

2. Try to do everything yourself?

3. Blow up easily?

4. Seek unrealistic goals?

5. Fail to see the humour in situations others find funny?

6. Act rude?

7. Make a 'big deal' of everything?

8. Look to other people to make things happen?

9. Have difficulty making decisions?

10. Complain you are disorganized?

11. Avoid people whose ideas are different from your own?

12. Keep everything inside?

13. Neglect exercise?

14. Have few supportive relationships?

15. Use sleeping pills and tranquilizers without a doctor's approval?

16. Get too little rest?

17. Get angry when you are kept waiting?

18. Ignore stress symptoms?

19. Put things off until later?

20. Think there is only one right way to do something?

21. Fail to build relaxation time into your day?

22. Gossip?

23. Race through the day?

24. Spend a lot of time complaining about the past?

25. Fail to get a break from noise and crowds?

Results:

Like golf, the lower your score, the less chance that stress is causing you problems.

For 0-6 points: “There are few hassles in your life. Make sure, though, that you are not trying so hard to avoid problems that you shy away from challenges.”

For 7-13 points: “You’ve got your life in fairly good control. Work on the choices and habits that could still be causing you some unnecessary stress in your life.”

For 14 – 20 points: “You're approaching the danger zone. You may well be suffering stress-related symptoms and your relationships could be strained. Think carefully about choices you've made and take relaxation breaks every day."

For 21-25 points: “You must stop now, re-think how you are living, change your attitudes, and pay careful attention to diet, exercise, and relaxation."