They say I need help mostly

These are several scores I received from taking 'stress tests.' I think most of my stress comes from simply being very busy. The tests are often making assumptions about people according to how much they have to do, how much responsibility you have, and how realistic you are about things you can accomplish. I realize that I am busy, and I realize that I do not necessarily have to do all the stuff I make commitments about. However, I enjoy being busy and often feel more stressed when I have nothing I have to do at all. In other words I always feel that I should be doing something.

If your score totals 150 or more:
You have a 50-50 chance of developing an illness.

If your score totals 300 or more:
You have a 90 percent chance of developing an illness.

My total score was 358

www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/stress-test-3454-143.html - 40k -

Your score is = 13

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Scores of 1-6 Few Hassles

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Scores of 7-12 Pretty Good Control

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Scores of 13-17 Danger Zone. Watch out!

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Scores of 18+ Stressed Out. You may need help.

http://www.lessons4living.com/cgi/stresstest.cgi

Overall Score

This score is a measure of overall emotional well-being. Your score is 3.56 on a range of 1 to 5. A higher score indicates that you are more well-adjusted. Your score indicates that you are similar to people who report that they have benefited from short-term counseling with a professional counselor.

People who are severely stressed and may benefit from intesive help (average = 2.99)
People who report receiving benefit from outpatient counseling (average = 3.19)
People who report receiving benefit from short-term counseling from a professional counselor (average = 3.65)
People who are functioning well and don't feel they need professional counseling (average = 4.17)

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Quality of Life Score

This is a measure of how happy or satisfied you are with your life, including overall self-esteem, health, friends and family, and work or school. Your score is 3.9 on a range of 1 to 5. A higher score indicates that you are more well-adjusted.

People who are severely stressed and may benefit from intesive help (average = 2.92)
People who report receiving benefit from outpatient counseling (average = 2.98)
People who report receiving benefit from short-term counseling from a professional counselor (average = 3.52)
People who are functioning well and don't feel they need professional counseling (average = 3.93)

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Symptom Distress Score

This score measures your symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hostility. Your score is 3 on a range of 1 to 5. A higher score indicates that you are more well-adjusted.

People who are severely stressed and may benefit from intesive help (average = 2.75)
People who report receiving benefit from outpatient counseling (average = 3.04)
People who report receiving benefit from short-term counseling from a professional counselor (average = 3.50)
People who are functioning well and don't feel they need professional counseling (average = 4.24)

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Level of Functioning Score

This is a measure of how well you are able to get along in the community. Your score is 3.75 on a range of 1 to 5. A higher score indicates that you are more well-adjusted.

People who are severely stressed and may benefit from intesive help (average = 3.32)
People who report receiving benefit from outpatient counseling (average = 3.61)
People who report receiving benefit from short-term counseling from a professional counselor (average = 3.99)
People who are functioning well and don't feel they need professional counseling (average = 4.32

4 points or more:
You are very prone to the negative effects of stress and may be open to stress-related illness. You must not delay in doing something about it. Seek professional stress management counseling and consult your medical doctor.

http://suicideandmentalhealthassociationinternational.org/stresstest.html

You are a person with a sympathetic nervous system.

This means that stress causes you to react with extreme excitement:

• The blood vessels constrict
• The pulse is too fast
• The muscles tense up
• The glands get more activated
• Stress hormones are released (adrenalin rush)

You could easily get anxiety attacks, not depressions.

Stress Index

http://www.cmha.ca/BINS/content_page.asp?cid=4-42-216

My score is a 5. I am unsure what it is out of though. According to the test, there are few hasseles in my life. A problem I may have is that I may try top hard to avoid problems and challanges.

My life is not that stressful. My family allows me the comfort of a non stressful life. I know alot of people who live on their own in addition to work and school. I look at these people and feel as if I am lucky. I go to the gym everyday and eat healthy. Physically I am not stressed. I feel that my yoga practice also reduces my stress level as well.

My stress level may elevate as I grow. Soon I will have to make significant changes in my life. To try to maintain low stress, I will try to continue working out, eating right, and weekly practice of yoga. But most of all, just be happy. If you are happy, you can not be too stressed.

Stress Index

Although the stress test put a number or range in my head of where I stand exactly, I already knew that I was operating at maximum capacity. It seems like each year I add one more thing to my plate, without ever stopping to take something off. I took the stress index at the following site:
http://webapp.dpor.state.va.us/articles/stress_index.htm
At this site- they assign a certain number value to situations that could/are occurring in your life. The site says that the average person handles around 100 stress points without much difficulties. My number came in at 148. It says it's time to relax.. and if your stressors can not be changed to take a little time off. Great advice- if only it were that easy.
The two biggest stressors in my life- personal situation and my work- are both unchangeable at the moment. My work would be much more manageable if only I could have a little more time off. Our time off is granted by numbers of years worked at the company- and it seems to be fairly consistent with other companies policies. The problem is we work much more than the average company- the only day of the year we close is Christmas Day. We work every federal holiday, weekend, late hours with rotating shifts that never let you settle into a sleep cycle. So while my friend gets 2 weeks off a year; she also gets thanksgiving plus a day or two, Christmas eve and Christmas plus a day or two, new years day, and a couple other days off. So it would seem a change of employment would be the best solution but financially is not feasible at this time. I will probably have to stay here until I finish school- which hopefully is only one more year.
So my plan of action is this- 1. take one day at a time. This works especially well when hit with a large school load on top of workload. 2. Keep my goal in front of me- to graduate college to get a better job- which will allow me to reach my potential and ultimately give me more of a work/life balance 3. Remember what I've accomplished so far.- i went from working 30 hours a week to working 50+ AND took on the responsibility of school AND have completed 3 full marathons and 5 half marathons 4. Take a little time every day to pay myself first- usually this involves running but could also be my in style magazine- even 30 minutes really makes a difference
So far my plan is carrying me through- I think there are times in your life where you test yourself and stretch yourself because in the end the rewards could be great.

Change Management

A corporation is no more important than the people that run it so therefore it evidently would adapt to the enviornment as it changes over time. Change management is the need to change the direction the people in the company are presenting the company to better assymilate the organization into society. The strongest form of change management would have to be training programs or inhouse speakers brought to the Corporation to train and exemplify the direction your employees should be moving towards.

The faceless internet and conflict

When looking at conflict management online- there are several tools out there for a world that is increasingly global. There are plenty of online studies and quizzes one can take to assess their management style, to answer real to life scenes about conflict and other easy fixes to conflict. For the corporation going global, these are a huge help I'm sure. Some of the website I saw, I wanted to explore further to develop my own skills. I think these small workshops help in the global world because the conflict is never as heated as when you work with someone face to face day to day.
However, if you are in a business with constant interaction among team members and upper management, it is safe to say some things can not be dealt with strictly online. From personal experience, most conflict is never really addressed through email or other similar correspondence. Most conflict, when it really comes to a head, must be dealt with in person. It is only in person that you can really listen and therefore communicate. You can actively listen to words, as well as body language, voice tone, and other signals you miss via the Internet. Online management is effective for corresponding with large groups of people instantly, but when problems really need to be solved nothing can substitute personal interaction.

Conflict Management

Handling conflicts online is simply not a good idea. Like text messages, this method of communication allows individuals to avoid conflict in real life, and if they never get to experience that part of life, they will not get the experience needed to help others.

The positive side is that for a large organization with offices in different locations, being able to handle things remotely can save time and money on other expenses.

If they must use technology, then video conferencing would be the best way to handle it.