mental health

I'm starting a new series of mental health information on my blog. Unless I get overwhelming feedback that this sucks. Disclaimer- I am not a mental health professional- yet.

Stress! Ever wonder if you are a big ball of stress?

There are a few of you who definately should score off the charts. Answer honestly. It should be pretty clear to you how you are doing. But if you wish you can send me your results and I can score it for you.

Perceived Stress Scale- 10 Item
Instructions: The questions in this scale ask you about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. In each case, please indicate with a check how often you felt or thought a certain way.

1. In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that happened unexpectedly?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

2. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your life?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

3. In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and "stressed"?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

4. In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle your personal problems?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

5. In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

6. In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things that you had to do?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

7. In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in your life?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

8. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

9. In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that were outside of your control?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

10. In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them?
___0=never ___1=almost never ___2=sometimes ___3=fairly often ___4=very often

Disclosure. "Permission for use of the scale is not necessary when use is for academic reseach or educational purposes." My rationale for posting the scale is that I am a psyc student who is learning about this scale, and I am educating others. However, just in case-accessed from http://www.macses.ucsf.edu/Research/Psychosocial/notebook/PSS10.html

Laurie Nelson

Department of Psychology

Carnegie Mellon University

5000 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

or email your request with your complete address included:lanelson@andrew.cmu.edu

Please don't sue me, I'm worth nothing- I will however remove PSS if requested

watch for Pt 2: reducing stress or maybe the health problems associated with stress.