You may be stressed out if you regularly exhibit the following behaviors and attitudes:

Impatient at the rate of events

• Hurry others' speech
• Say, "Yes, yes, uh-huh, yes."
• Finish sentences for others
• Become irritated at a slow car ahead on the road
• Hate to wait in line or for an appointment
• "Take over" when I can do it faster/better than others
• Hurry my reading (or read mostly summaries)

Polyphasic thought or performance

• Thinking or doing more than one thing at a time, e.g., while listening think of tasks, while golfing think of work, while eating read a book

Self-engrossed

• Try to bring conversation around to my expertise and interest
• If not, stay quiet and think about my own interests

Feel vaguely guilty when relaxing

• Seldom do nothing for a few hours (or days)

Don't observe the interesting or lovely in my path

• Don't hear birds, see flowers, enjoy beautiful weather, etc.
• Can't remember decorations in a room or office

Habitual pattern of gestures or nervous tics

• Gestures in conversation such as clenched fist, waving finger, table pounding
• Spasmodically tightening corners of mouth, clinching jaw, constantly nodding head, constantly smiling

Believe success is related to doing things faster than others

• Afraid to slow down
• Feel unsupported when I slow down

Translate life into numbers

• Increasingly evaluate myself and work in terms of numbers
• Compare my numbers with others' numbers to measure my success

The Center for Behavioral Health® at Baptist Hospital East offers help in learning how to deal more effectively with stress. For more information, call (502) 896-7105 or toll-free 1-800-478-1105. Help is available 24 hours a day.

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