Personal Essay Example: My Life Stressors

Based on the inventory social readjustment rating scale (SRRS), my results after totalling up the life change units were 150-199 mid life crisis (33 percent chance of illness). I’m surprised that the results weren’t any higher than 199. But considering the fact that other life stressors weren’t listed in the rating scale, it makes sense. There are multiple major causes of stress in my life that reflect on my decision-making skills or change my mood quite frequently unfortunately.  I’ll have to tell you a little about myself to get a better understanding of how my life stressors relate to my lifestyle. 

I am a 21 year old female, currently serving in the United States Air Force in the law enforcement side. I have been serving for two years now and ongoing, my job is very demanding and very vital in the Air Force. Our responsibilities are numberless, our main duties are to provide base security, protect military assets and enforce the law amongst the installation. Being a female in the military and in the law enforcement side isn't easy, considering that out of 1.9 million men and women in the military only 1 percent of the population is made up of women. It will always be a struggle to be a woman in this career field, you experience lack of respect from men, your work ethic is consistently criticized, you get talked down to and discouraged only because of your gender. In this career field particularly, there are multiple positions you start from being an entry controller which is granting access for all personnel to enter the installation. Eventually, when you have a master being an entry controller, you level to patrolman which is probably the most mentally, and physically challenging position. When responding to calls, you have to mentally prepare yourself, and plan out how you are going to go about the particular situation. Lastly, the highest level of position being a 911 dispatcher, being a dispatcher is challenging. The amount of loads of responsibilities, stress and pressure that's put on you is countless. You are the base defense operation, you mentally must be fit and be ready for any situation. And I am at the level currently, the reason why I explain all of this is so whoever is reading this gets an overall better understanding of where my ultimate life stressors come from. Additionally, besides the stressors that come from work. There is also assignments for my classes that need to get done. There’s so much I want to get done in a timely manner in order to be able to relax on my off days, so during work I try to get my assignments knocked out to reduce my stress level during my off days. Moreover, I also have personal stressors such as being away from my family most of the time. Being in the presence of my family is a work-free, stress-free environment for me. When you join the military you are so used to being with your family daily, until you aren’t anymore then once you know you find yourself no longer surrounded by them, you realize how much you took their company of being with them for granted. Luckily, technology exist today and were are able to communicate with people. I am able to cope with the stress of being away from my family just by calling, texting and facetime. But most of the time it just isn't enough..I could go on about other life stressors in my life, but the list is endless unfortunately. 

There are several ways I am able to reduce and cope with stress. In my free time, I enjoy painting, reading, and writing. I describe these hobbies as more like an escape from all my problems and stressors, just occupying myself with activities that help me get by and take my mind somewhere else other than just surrounded by all my distress, and worries. Moreover, I also maintain my fitness by putting all the tension and anger into exercising and being able to relieve those feelings mentally and physically.