Using the Perceived Stress Scale to find your ground.
We’ve all been there. A conflict starts—maybe it’s a sharp comment from a partner or a misunderstanding with a family member—and suddenly, you can’t find your words. It’s not that you don’t have thoughts; it’s that it feels physically unsafe to let them out.
Last month, we looked at our overall wellbeing with the WHO-5 Index. This month, I want to look at a different metric: Stress. Specifically, how much of your life feels “uncontrollable” or “overloading” right now? When we feel like we can’t speak up during conflict, it’s often because our internal “stress bucket” is already full. We aren’t just reacting to the person in front of us; we are reacting to a nervous system that is tapped out.
Here’s a link to the Perceived Stress Scale if you’d like to see the questions.
When we feel like we can’t speak up during conflict, it’s often because our internal “stress bucket” is already full. We aren’t just reacting to the person in front of us; we are reacting to a nervous system that is tapped out.
This is why I’m hosting this month’s Settle In practice. We are going to walk through the Perceived Stress Scale together. It’s not just a test; it’s a map to help you understand why you might be “freezing” instead of “speaking.”
I’d love for you to join this session. Let’s create a little more room in that stress bucket so you can find your voice again.