Module 43
Stress and Coping
477
psychophysiological disorders range from major problems, such as high blood pressure,
to usually less serious conditions, such as headaches, backaches, skin rashes, indiges-
tion, fatigue, and constipation. Stress has even been linked to the common cold (Cohen
et al., 2003; Andrasik, 2006).
On a psychological level, high levels of stress prevent people from adequately
coping with life. Their view of the environment can become clouded (for example,
a minor criticism made by a friend is blown out of proportion). Moreover, at the
highest levels of stress, emotional responses may be so extreme that people are
unable to act at all. People under a lot of stress also become less able to deal with
new stressors.
In short, stress affects us in multiple ways. It may increase the risk that we will
become ill, it may directly cause illness, it may make us less able to recover from a
disease, and it may reduce our ability to cope with future stress. (See Figure 3 to get
a measure of your own level of stress.)
How Stressful Is Your Life?
Test your level of stress by answering these questions, and adding the score from each box. Questions apply to the last month only.
A key below will help you determine the extent of your stress.
1. How often have you been upset because of something
that happened unexpectedly?
■
0
5
never, 1
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes,
3
5
fairly often, 4
5
very often
2. How often have you felt that you were unable to control
the important things in your life?
■
0
5
never, 1
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes,
3
5
fairly often, 4
5
very often
3. How often have you felt nervous and “stressed”?
■
0
5
never, 1
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes,
3
5
fairly often, 4
5
very often
4. How often have you felt confi dent about your ability to
handle your personal problems?
■
4
5
never, 3
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes,
1
5
fairly often, 0
5
very often
5. How often have you felt that things were going your
way?
■
4
5
never, 3
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes,
1
5
fairly often, 0
5
very often
6. How often have you been able to control irritations in
your life?
■
4
5
never, 3
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes,
1
5
fairly often, 0
5
very often
7. How often have you found that you could not cope with
all the things that you had to do?
■
0
5
never, 1
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes, 3
5
fairly
often, 4
5
very often
8. How often have you felt that you were on top of things?
■
4
5
never, 3
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes, 1
5
fairly often,
0
5
very often
9. How often have you been angered because of things that
were outside your control?
■
0
5
never, 1
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes, 3
5
fairly often,
4
5
very often
10. How often have you felt diffi
culties were piling up so high
that you could not overcome them?
■
0
5
never, 1
5
almost never, 2
5
sometimes, 3
5
fairly often,
4
5
very often
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