Use this tool to help you identify your levels of stress and anxiety

To mark the release of my on demand 4 week programs, the blog conversations for this month will cover the topics of the programs:

Building confidence and self-esteem;

reducing stress and anxiety;

rewiring limiting belief systems; and

setting goals and taking intentional action

Today's blog is focusing on the program ‘Reducing Stress and Anxiety.’ Many people suffer with anxious thoughts and panic attacks. Many people also suffer from chronic levels of stress. Many people suffer with both! Perhaps unsurprisingly, over the last year, I have seen a huge rise in clients wanting help and support in this area. This is a huge area that needs far more support and awareness than it is currently given.

The first thing I work on, even before our consultation session with my clients is assessing where they are currently at in terms of their individual levels of stress, anxiety and overwhelm. I believe this is really important information because you learn about what you’re working with; you know that you are not alone; and you can see how these barriers affect you on an individual basis.

This blog will help you identify this for yourself. Below I have listed a few situational reactions, they will either be 1. thriving “I got this”, 2. surviving “something isn’t right”, 3. struggling “I can’t keep this up”, or 4. in crisis “I can’t survive this”. Which ones do you resonate with most?

1. Calm and steady with minor mood fluctuations

2. Nervousness, sadness, increased mood fluctuations

3. Persistent fear, panic, anxiety, anger, pervasive sadness, hopelessness

4. Disabling distress and loss of function

1. Able to take things in stride

2. Inconsistent performance

3. Exhaustion

4. Nightmares or flashbacks

1. Consistent performance

2. More easily overwhelmed and irritated

3. Poor performance and difficulty making decisions or concentrating

4. Unable to fall or stay asleep

1. Able to take feedback and to adjust to changes of plans

2. Increased need for control and difficulty adjusting to changes of plans

3. Avoiding interaction with coworkers, friends and/or family

4. Intrusive thoughts, social withdrawal, self-harm

1. Ability to communicate effectively

2. Activities and relationships you used to enjoy seem less interesting or stressful

3. Restlessness, fatigue, aches and pains

4. Careless mistakes and an inability to focus. Feeling numb, lost, or out of control

1. Normal sleep patterns and appetite

2. Muscle tension, low energy and tension

3. Self-medicating with substances, food or other numbing activities

4. Dependence on substances, food, or other numbing activities to cope.

Once you have a clearer picture of where you are, you can better assess what you need moving forward.

If the information in this blog interests you, please check out the ‘Reducing Stress and Anxiety’ on demand program. Each program contains the equivalent of over a months worth of session material with me (a £420+ value) for just £27! That’s (at the most) around 90p a day for a 4 week course. The best thing is that it is on demand, which means that you can take it at your own pace and in your own time. There are no rigid time commitments, no travel time, and no need to put off other priorities because you have a session appointment. I decided to make these programs because I believe I have an obligation to help make investing in self-work and emotional literacy more accessible, and a big part of that impact is to make this work more financially accessible.