How Stressed Out Are You?

A lot of psychology rests on the belief that, if you make implicit influences explicit, you can get the courage to face those influences and continue the lifelong vocation of self-improvement.

Right now, COVID-19 is ravaging our world in more ways than just the physical. In a recent study by the National Institutes of Health, researchers tried to get a handle on the different ways that this pandemic is affecting our stress and anxiety levels.

Not everyone is affected in the same way, but most people are affected in at least one of the following areas:

• Health anxiety (concern for the health and safety of ourselves and those we care about)
• Economic anxiety (concern for our financial future)
• Routine change anxiety
• Isolation anxiety

The inventory they used is relatively straightforward, and I share it (full credit to the authors) with you so you can begin to think about the areas where your experience is being negatively impacted by specific types of anxiety. This knowledge can help you to more intentionally think about how to tackle what's eating you.

COVID-19 State-Anxiety Sources Scale

Here are some sentences people usually use to describe their feelings. Read each sentence and circle a digit to the left of each sentence. Select the rating that best describes your feeling for the past week. There are no right or wrong answers here. Do not dwell too long on any sentence, rather give the answer that seems to best describe your current feelings (1 = not at all, 7 = very much).

1. I am tense about the possibility of getting sick or that I already was sick with Corona.
2. I feel upset about the possibility of getting sick or that I already was sick with Corona.
3. I am worried about the possibility of getting sick or that I already was sick with Corona.
4. I am tense about my economic situation.
5. I feel upset about my economic situation
6. I am worried about my economic situation.
7. I am tense by the fact that my routine has changed
8. I feel upset by the fact that my routine has changed
9. I am worried by the fact that my routine has changed.
10. I am tense about my loneliness.
11. I feel upset about my loneliness.
12. I am worried about my loneliness.

Scoring:

Add up your ratings for items 1-3. This is your level of health state-anxiety. The closer your score is to 21, the more anxiety you are feeling about your health.

Add up your ratings for items 4-6. This is your level of economic state-anxiety. The closer your score is to 21, the more anxiety you are feeling about your financial situation.

Add up your ratings for items 7-9. This is your level of daily change state-anxiety. The closer your score is to 21, the more anxiety you are feeling about changes to your daily routine.

Add up your ratings for items 10-12. This is your level of isolation state-anxiety. The closer your score is to 21, the more anxiety you are feeling about being isolated from your social support network.

Take a look at your scores. Choose the type of anxiety that has the highest sum. How will you attempt to address the sources of this type of anxiety? In what ways can an attitude change about this type of anxiety help you? I would welcome and be grateful for your thoughts. Good luck to you!