When was the last time you checked your "anger temperature"? Are you a volcano? A stuffer? Neither? The following "Irritability Indicator" by Devon Weber is not intended to be an in-depth analysis of your emotional health.
However, it can provide a quick temperature reading on how well you respond to anger. You might try taking this quiz with your family and/or caregivers, and then talk about your results. When we talk about our emotions and how we respond to them, we take a giant step toward handling them in healthier ways. Are you ready? Read the following list of 20 potentially stressful situations and rate the degree to which that situation would anger or upset you according to this scale:
0 = I would feel very little or no anger.
1 = I would feel a little angry or upset.
2 = I would feel moderately angry.
3 = I would feel very angry.
4 = I would feel extremely angry.
- While carrying groceries into your house, the bag breaks, spilling the groceries all over the sidewalk.
- You plug in your new toaster and it doesn't work.
- Someone makes a mistake and blames it on you.
- Your boss reprimands you for something while the actions of others go unnoticed.
- You get a flat tire on the way to work.
- You have a 1 p.m. appointment with your dentist, and you are not seen until 3:15.
- You are being ignored.
- You make plans to go somewhere, but the person backs out at the last moment.
- You are trying to read, but someone near you keeps talking to you.
- Your car stalls at a traffic light, and the guy behind you keeps blowing his horn.
- Someone knocks a stack of important papers out of your hand but fails to help you pick them up.
- You are shopping and the sales clerk won't leave you alone.
- You are trying to express your feelings to someone who will not listen.
- You are in a hurry, but the car in front of you is going under the speed limit.
- Your best friend asks your new romance to a party but fails to invite you.
- You lend a friend something of value to you, and the friend fails to return it.
- You step on a wad of bubble gum.
- You did not get the promotion you asked for.
- Your friend calls you at 1 a.m. to tell you he can't sleep.
- You receive your doctor bill and feel you have been overcharged.
Add up your score and interpret the total according to the following scale:
0-36 The amount of irritability you usually experience is remarkably low. Only a small percentage of the population scores this low on the indicator. A score this low may mean that you are holding your anger inside.
37-44 You are considerably more passive than the average person. This does not mean that you are not angry - remember, passive people hold their anger inside.
45-60 You react to life's stresses with an average amount of anger.
61-68 You experience anger often and respond to life's stresses with more irritation than the average person.
68-80 You are an intense person and have frequent anger outbursts that do not quickly disappear. You may have the reputation of a hothead among people who know you. Your anger may get you into trouble in your professional and private worlds. You may experience headaches and high blood pressure. Only a small percentage of the population reacts as intensely to stress as you do.
"Irritability Indicator" is from Devon Hansen's (formerly Devon Weber) book, Angry? Do You Mind If I Scream?published by Inner Dynamics Press ($8.95). Devon Hansen is a speaker/consultant who was called to work with survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing. For more information call Heartpeople Productions at 937-223-4038
Excerpted from The Encourager magazine, Winter 1999, Vol. 5,
No. 1, a publication of Dave Dravecky's Outreach of Hope. Used by permission.
For more information about Dave Dravecky's Outreach of Hope national cancer ministry, you can access his Web site at www.outreachofhope.org or call the ministry at 719-481-3528.
Copyright 1999 Dave Dravecky's Outreach of Hope. All rights reserved.
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