Life in the time of COVID: Pandemic Personal Stressor Scale™ Checklist

Are you experiencing new stresses related to COVID – 19, or chronic stresses more acutely? If yes, then according to the American Psychological Association (APA), you are among the 65% of Americans who are suffering greater than usual anxiety and depression, helplessness and even hopelessness. According to the APA, parents of children under the age of 18 are one of the most stressed out groups of all.

Many of the individuals who have turned to the MindHealing InstituteⓇ are also in these groups. 

Reiki, Therapeutic Meditation, Yoga Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are evidence-based modalities used by the MindHealing InstituteⓇ for identification of stressors and facilitation of coping skills, while developing resilience and solutions to live a meaningful life in line with personal values.

Intermittent stress is not something we normally worry about. We are built for this kind of stress. However, long term stress negatively impacts our vitality, often creating difficulties with personal and professional relationships. It can lead to mental, emotional, physical and spiritual illnesses if not managed early on.

Chronic or persistent stress can cause or exacerbate many serious physical and mental health conditions including:

• High blood pressure

• Increased cholesterol and triglycerides

• Heart attack

• Diabetes

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Headaches

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Accelerated Aging

• Immune function 

And there are plenty more symptoms we can add to this list with scientific evidence to back up these claims.

Longtime clinical psychologist and stressor/stress management expert Paul R. Ahr, Ph.D. has developed a 50-item checklist which he uses to help persons suffering from generalized pandemic stress responses to target stressors with the greatest current impact.  In this way he helps clients move from a generalized stress response to a prioritized list of specific COVID-19 related stressors.  With that list in hand, clients can target high impact stressors which, when better managed, will free up focus to address lower impact – but still real – stressors.

I have known Dr. Ahr for more than 25 years and am familiar with his stress/stressor management checklists in corporate and clinical settings.  If you would like a copy of the Pandemic Personal Stress Scale™ checklist, sign up for our newsletter below and receive a free copy. 

Patricia is a Registered Nurse and Certified Meditation Specialist. Call for a meditation appointment or consultation today. We also offer Reiki appointments and trainings on line or in person.