After completing the Life Stress Inventory, the Coping and Stress Management Skills Test, and the Type A Personality Survey, I started thinking more seriously about how I’ve been managing everything over the past year. I scored a 250 on the Life Stress Inventory, which suggests a 50:50 chance of stress-related illness. That didn’t surprise me. I recently moved from Oregon to Georgia to help care for my partner’s sick grandmother, and while I don’t regret it, the transition has been overwhelming. Being away from home, taking on more responsibility, and juggling school and work have definitely added up. Honestly, I think my true stress level is even higher than the test reflects.
The coping assessment showed that I rarely use problem-focused strategies, even when the stressor is something I could actually control. That result felt very accurate. I’ve never had strong coping skills; I tend to push through and then be extremely hard on myself when things don’t go perfectly. Seeing this pattern laid out made me realize how important it is for me to slow down, step back, and give myself more room to handle stress in healthier ways.
The Type A Personality Survey claimed I’m high in impatience and irritability, but I don’t fully agree. I’m not someone who gets angry easily or lashes out. What is true is that I can be intense and very direct, and under stress that might come across differently than I intend. It takes a lot for others to actually upset me, so I’m not sure the test captured the full picture.
These assessments were a wake-up call, especially the Life Stress Inventory and its link to health. I already know that coping through beer or cigarettes can affect my body, but I hadn’t considered how the stress itself also puts me at risk.
Today, many companies take stress seriously by offering mental-health programs, flexible schedules, EAPs, and wellness coaching. Seeing how organizations support their employees makes me realize I need to support myself too if I want to have a successful career path and healthy life. Building healthier coping skills and being kinder to myself will be essential tools for both my success and my well-being.