Pressure builds. Have you ever accidentally shaken up a can of your favorite soda before trying to open it?
Much like your can of soda, pressure can unexpectedly build. Anytime pressure builds, it will eventually need to be released somewhere. If we fail to deal with it in a healthy way, it will come spewing out in unfortunate places. This explosion of emotions can happen in a variety of ways. The explosion will look different for each of us.
If we allow the pressure to build until it finds a way out, it could surface in what many call a “mental breakdown.” You have probably heard people say that they “just lost it.” This outburst could come in the form of anger, rage, or aggression. On the other hand, it could show up in the form of apathy, withdrawal, or isolation.
What can we do?
There’s no one thing to look out for, but we can all agree that something must be underneath the surface. If we do not take time to find healthy ways to handle the pressure, we can be sure that it will find its way out. From my experience, this tends to happen at the most inopportune times. So, what can we do to address these outbursts proactively?
One great way to do so is to perform a pressure check. A pressure check is a great tool we can implement to help alleviate these emotional outbursts.
How do I do a pressure check?
In her book Reset, Debra Fileta says that a tool called the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory helps measure stress. This inventory is an excellent way to help predict the likelihood of having an “emotional explosion” based on the level of stress you are experiencing. It’s also worth noting that this tool included both positive and negative stress events.
In this week’s application exercise, the Overflow Community took the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory. Each of us has been through different circumstances and events in the past year, but there were some similarities. Several of us were surprised by our level of stress. Either we had a stressful year and felt our score should have been higher, or we were amazed by how high it was. After completing the exercise, we have a new appreciation for regular pressure checks.
What about you? How have the past 12 months been? Have you taken the time to take an inventory of your stress level?
I would love to hear what you learned through this.
