Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale: 305

1. Physical Health

1.1. Stress I have experienced from physical health is related to the illnesses I got last year, the vacations I took, and the financial state I was in. Because of these factors, I did not eat healthy or exercise as much as I should. The incidents also do not help because a few years ago I found out I had Crohn's Disease. Stress can trigger some stomach problems I have that are directly related to my Crohn's. My physical health has only worsened when stressful situations occur such as illnesses, vacations, and my financial state. Physically, I have gone downhill with what I eat, how I fail to exercise, and how I cope with the stress of big factors like the ones listed above.

1.2. The effects on my physical state has made me overly tired throughout the day, has weakened me physically, has made me gain weight, and has led to my upset stomach in relation to my Crohn's disease. Symptoms of physical stress are effects such as headaches, muscle tension or pain, chest pains, fatigue, upset stomach, and sleep problems (Mayo Clinic, 2020). I can relate to the sleep problems and the upset stomach. In times of extremely intense stress that is long-term I often notice that I have headaches. For example, while I am packing and preparing for vacations, I often get headaches a few days before because I am overwhelmed with everything I have to pack and preparing the house for dog sitters, cleaning the house, making sure reservations are in place, and more. There are negative physical consequences of stress and I must take certain measures to improve them.

1.3. How to fix my physical health is by exercising regularly, getting a good nights sleep, and controlling my emotions and my psychological state. Ensuring both those are take care of can help my physical body relax and get the rest and nutrients it needs. Eating right and practicing physical relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and other exercise contributes to a strong, healthy body.

2. Spiritual Presence

2.1. Stress can not only impact the emotional, psychological, and physical state of well-being, it can impact the spiritual state as well. When these events occur such as the health change in a family member, the new occupation, and the financial change; these all are factors that can take a toll on an individual spiritually if they let it. However, in these moments I find my strength in the Lord more than ever before. Sometimes it is only when I am going through hardships is where Christ shines the most. With these incidents that occurred in the last year, I find myself always praying and knowing that God has put me on the right path for my life.

2.2. Throughout stressful events, I always confide in the Lord for spiritual presence and try to immerse myself in His Word. When I feel emotionally stressed, I turn to bible verses that encourage me such as John 14: where it says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me" (John 14:1, NIV). From a psychological standpoint, when times of stress occur, it is crucial to rely on the Lord. It says in Colossians 3:2, "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2, NIV). It is important to live with this mindset because Earth is not the end, only the beginning. If I set my mind on things above, this assures my faith and my hope that God will get me through whatever trial or tribulation I will have to go through. Finally, God tells us to take care of our physical state. He says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Do you not know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV). In acting as Christ did is to not let stress overtake us. To be in Christ means to be in love that reflects His compassion for humanity and to cast all worries onto Him. With the Lord's strength and the Holy Spirit is the only way I can get through these stressful events and the consequences of stress.

3. Emotional Health

3.1. Stress I have experienced from emotional health came from a change in health of a family member, the gain of new family member when my younger sister got married, the amount of vacations I went on last year, and the change in my financial state. These were the negative changes in the last year that triggered stress in my emotions that have often brought my feelings down.

3.2. The effects on my emotional state became different because of these various situations that contributed to my stress level. In these occurring events I often would be immersed in sadness and depression. I continuously tried to not let my emotions get the best of me. If I were to show my emotions on my sleeve during these events it could easily interfere with my ability to, "complete daily activities, hold a job, and enjoy successful interpersonal relationships" (mentalhelp.net, 2015). The emotions that surface in stressful situation are irritability, hostility, frustration, anger, aggressive feelings or behavior, and social withdraw. The effects on emotional health because of stress are significant.

3.3. The solution to emotional health comes with being able to control emotions that are triggered by stress. Being able to control emotions caused by stress starts by recognizing the emotions, acknowledging what triggers them and then responding in a calm, collective way. One article states, "choose to feel something different when an emotion arises. This is how you gain emotional freedom" (Reynolds, 2015). For example, when I gained a new family member, a brother-in-law, I was overwhelmed and sad that my only sister would be somehow taken away from me. The wedding stressed me and yet I managed to control my emotions and put on a happy face for my sister. I saw the good in the situation that changed my feelings towards the new addition in my family. Controlling and maintain positive emotions can help in the times of stress

4. Psychological Health

4.1. Stress I have experienced from my psychological health includes having a new occupation, taking vacations, having a new family member, a change in health of a family member and a change in my financial situation. My psychological state became one of worry and much anxiety. I often wondered throughout all of these events "What would happen next? Will this be a good thing? Is this a circumstance from God?". My psychological state was filled with confusion and something I could describe as cloudy. The most specific event that had impacted my psychological state was the event of my grandfather changing in health and his heart getting worse. I started to realize that life is short and it needs to be lived to the fullest. Certain events like these has changed my psychological and my worldview on life.

4.2. The affects on my psychological state were undoubtedly relevant in my life. Stress in the psychological state can be results of relationship conflicts at home, new or increasing work responsibilities, increasing demands, financial strain, loss of a loved one, health problems, and more (healthline, 2020). One event that I marked on my survey was change in my financial situation. This obstacle also influences my psychological thoughts because I now have to think about what I buy, is it worth the price, and is it something I can afford. This causes more worries with money and a possible financial burden on my mind and my lifestyle. The psychological ramifications of stress can cause great concern that effects that way I live my life and the thought processes that occur in my mind as a result of that stress.

4.3. I can change my personal response to my psychological stress in many ways. These ways consist of getting my brain to think about other things or to get my thoughts out in a safe manner through venting (not gossiping or telling someone else). Ways to improve psychological stress include, self-understanding, self-management, conflict resolution, adopting a more positive attitude, self-talk, breathing exercises, meditation, and exercise (Psychological World, 2020). Other healthy ways to change psychological stress is by keeping a gratitude journal which helps count blessings and helps maintain a grateful mind. After these stressful events that have happened in my life, I keep a gratitude journal, I pray, I try to always have a positive attitude, and I am always striving to be understanding. It is enlightening to know the various ways that psychological stress can be handled and how that stress can turn into positivity.