Stress

Last Saturday, I had to take my annual Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT). This is an annual fitness test that I have to take since my enlistment for National Service. For those failed the test, remedial training lessons during weekends will be catered for them. I am never a sports inclined person and dislike doing exercises. I realize that symptoms of stress were already present on days prior to the test date (a life event). I began to lose sleep two days before my test. Those nights, as I much as I tried to think of something else to distract myself, thoughts of the "scary" fitness test refuse to go away. I was tossing over my bed throughout the nights. I was suffering from insomnia, a physical consequence of stress.

Besides that, emotional effects of stress were felt. I was moody and irritable. The thought of having to spend weekends doing remedial exercise, instead of spending my time with family and friends, had really stressed me up. Resorting to last-minute training, I practised doing pull-ups and running. However, the performances were depressing, especially my 2.4km run. My timing was about 2 minutes off the passing timing. I was glad that my girlfriend was well aware of my unhappiness and she called. Talking to her on the phone gives me comfort and instills higher self-belief in myself as she is very encouraging.

On the test day, I managed to clear all the other four stations and only the 2.4 km run, my last and weakest station, was left. At the point in time, I could really feel my heart beating really fast. I have never excelled in running, and from the performances of the past two days, the odds are staked against me. Soon, I could feel tension in my legs muscles and my legs felt heavy.

Trying to cope with the stress just before the start of the run, I decided to seek comfort from talking to my friend, James who was also taking the test with me. I told him that I was very worried