Results of Various Tests I Took
The Depression Test
Depression is one of the most prevalent and serious mental illnesses in
the world today; approximately one in four women and one in eight men
experience at least one bout of clinical depression in their lifetime.
Almost every one of us has, at one point or another, experienced a
"blue mood" as a result of a disruptive life event (like ending a
relationship) or day-to-day stress. However, true depression is a
pervasive feeling of sadness that impairs our general functioning and
lasts for more than two weeks. While we often throw around the word
"depressed" to describe any fleeting moment of unhappiness, depression
is actually a biological illness that doesn’t simply disappear
overnight.
As researchers and doctors work to better
understand the biological roots of depression, treatment options
improve and become more available. With proper treatment, in fact, the
feelings of despair, hopelessness, and helplessness can be alleviated
so sufferers can go on to live rich and fulfilling lives.
Unfortunately, the diagnosis of depression is often delayed, as
well-meaning friends and family tell the depressed individual to "just
snap out of it". Many people still carry the misperception that
depression is a character flaw, a problem that happens because the
individual is weak. Because of this stigma, people suffering from
depression often hesitate to seek medical treatment.
The first step towards breaking free of depression is diagnosing the
problem. The Depression Test is a good start, but if you show any signs
of depression you should not hesitate to seek professional advice.
My Score: 81
Interpretation: It’s common for people to feel a sense of hopelessness for a time when
undergoing certain traumatic but rather common life events, such as
significant personal or economic losses. However, this feeling seems to
be fairly persistent in your case and a serious condition may be
developing. Your feelings most likely interfere with your job
performance and/or limit your social activities putting a damper on
experiences that have great potential. It is important that you take
active steps to decrease the frequency and intensity of these emotions
so that they don’t dictate the way you carry out your life.
Look over the list of symptoms provided below. If your symptoms are
connected with a negative incident in your life, then you might
overcome them naturally if you give it some time. However, if there has
been no such incident, there may be cause for alarm. Depression is
treatable and the success rate is very high. You may feel now that
every day is a struggle, but it can get better. After some time, with
proper treatment, facing another day will become easier and gradually,
you will find joy again. Talk to a physician.
Some of the more common symptoms of depression are:
- Changes in sleep habits such as insomnia, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much.
- Changes in eating habits such as loss of appetite or weight gain.
- Decreased energy, feeling of fatigue.
- Restlessness and irritability.
- Difficulty in concentration, remembering, and making decisions.
- Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt or worthlessness.
- Persistent sad, anxious, or empty feelings.
- Loss of interest in pleasurable activities, such as involvement with loved ones or hobbies.
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
To fulfill the diagnostic criteria for major depressive episode (in
other words to receive an official diagnosis of depression), five (or
more) of these symptoms have to be present during the same 2-week
period and represent a change from previous functioning. At least one
of the symptoms must be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of
interest or pleasure (DSM-IV, 1996).
+++
Sex Personality [/gg]
Different strokes for different folks; it’s a common truth that applies
not only to every day life and habits, but also to the secretive world
of the bedroom. What starts one person’s engines may repulse another,
and everyone expresses the natural human need for sexual intimacy in a
unique and individual way. That’s the beauty of mankind - we are not
homogeneous robots. Just as we love and communicate with others in
different ways, so we bring diverse styles with us into the sack. These
approaches to sex stem from a wide range of factors; how in touch we
are with our sensual side, the way we learned about sex as we grew up,
our moral and religious beliefs, the strength of our need to express
ourselves sexually and the physical relationships we’ve had in the
past. All this is to say that there is no right or wrong way to be. What is important is being satisfied with the way you are and accepting your uniqueness.
My Score: 71
Interpretation: The results of the test suggest that you are very open-minded when it
comes to sexuality. You seem to welcome new experiences within the
realm of sex and even if you aren’t comfortable with a particular
ingredient of sex, you are very nonjudgmental of those who indulge
themselves. You are not threatened by the diverse sexual tastes that
make this world go round. In fact, you seem to be willing to tolerate
sexual behavior that colors outside of the lines of ‘normalcy,’ as long
as both partners are into it. Keep up the healthy attitude!
+++
Sensuality Test
Sensuality is an acute awareness of what the senses perceive. This
preoccupation or devotion to that which is smelled, felt, touched,
heard, tasted, and seen has some bearing on how one experiences life.
Studies have shown that people who are exceptionally sensual live for
the moment and are not hung up on the future or the past. What is
presently going on is enough to captures the sensual individual’s full
attention. This is an excellent recipe for happiness. Sensual people
enjoy experience itself, basking in actual acts rather than rushing
through them to get at some possible or imaginary end. In sum, sensual
persons take advantage of what life has to offer, living everyday as if
it were their last.
My Score: 90
Interpretation: You are one sensual human being! Yours is a hedonistic attitude, and
you deeply enjoy the sensual pleasures that life has to offer. Your
senses are also inextricably linked to your emotions and certain
sensual stimuli can evoke strong feelings. Therefore you tend to be
emotionally passionate. Because you get so much pleasure from your
senses, you are eager to experiment in life. This is positive since you
can make great discoveries and experience a lot of pleasure. It is
important, however, to keep yourself in check since people who delight
is sensual pleasures are at a slightly increased risk for addictions
(substance, sex, love, etc.). All in all, you have the innate ability
to use your senses to enjoy what this life has to offer!
+++
Self-Esteem Test
Self-esteem is essential to our ability to function in a healthy way.
Without the foundation of a solid sense of self-worth, we are unable to
take the risks and make the decisions necessary to lead a fulfilling,
productive life. A low self-esteem corrodes our love lives, careers,
family bonds, and, most importantly, our internal sense of well-being.
A high self-esteem, on the other hand, brings the high level of
confidence, problem-solving abilities, and assertiveness needed to
achieve what Maslow called "self-actualization"- a continuous desire to
fulfill potentials, to be all that you can be. People who have positive
self-esteem have healthier, stronger relationships with others. A
strong sense of self-worth actually creates a type of self-fulfilling
prophecy: the more you like yourself, the more you begin to act in
likable ways; the more you believe you are able to achieve something,
the more likely it is that you will. And the good news is that we can
all take steps to improve our self-esteem. After all, there’s nothing
more important than the relationship you have with yourself!
My Score: 55
Interpretation: According to this test, you have a reasonably high level of
self-esteem. There is, however, still some room for improvement. You
seem to experience some doubt about your own abilities, occasional
feelings of inadequacy and possibly even question your own self-worth
from time to time. Essentially, you sometimes get caught up in a
vicious circle; if you believe that you cannot do something, your
belief causes you to think and behave in a way that leads to your
eventual failure. Although your self-esteem is generally healthy, and
some insecurity is normal, it certainly can’t hurt to give your
confidence a boost. There is a wide range of resources available out
there on the subject, why not check them out? You’ll certainly see the
long-term benefits - increased confidence, better relationships, less
anxiety and an overall improved sense of well-being.
+++
Dependency Test
When it comes to relationships, one would think that there could never
be too much of selflessness and giving. However, for people with
dependent personalities, selflessness is very problematic because it’s
driven by fear. Dependent individuals operate to avoid rejection, to
keep their relationship intact, and to earn love. They often seek
approval and validation from their significant others to the point of
abandoning their own opinions, feelings, and values. Because the idea
of abandonment generates trepidation and the feeling that they won’t
survive, dependent persons’ desire to please their partner overrides
their own individuality.
People with dependency problems usually team up
with those who like to be in control. In the beginning, such
relationships might seem just right because the two people involved
complement one another and fulfill each other’s needs. However, in a
codependent relationship, the pleasure is sucked out of giving, and
both partners end up unhappy, frustrated, and distressed. The
controlling person often starts feeling suffocated and annoyed at the
neediness of the other and the dependent person often end ups feeling
taken advantage of and bitter. When the codependent relationship does
finally crumble, the dependent person is worse off than s/he was at the
beginning. S/he is left with no sense of self, and no one to take care
of him/her.
My Score: 0
Interpretation: This test has detected no major dependency issues. You know who you are
and what you want. You have confidence enough in yourself to stand up
for what you believe in and to match up with a partner who appreciate
your distinct individuality, respects your opinions and values, and
accepts your weaknesses. Kindness is a wonderful component of your
relationship; the giving and the taking are well balanced and the
responsibility for happiness, as well as for conflicts, is shared.
Overall, your relationship is healthy and fulfilling; it provides you
with the pleasure and the support needed to sustain well-being.
+++
Love Diagnostic Test
My Score: 82
Interpretation: Your Love Diagnostic Test results show that you are happy and confident
in the strength of your relationship. Overall, you and your partner
seem to have built a high level of intimacy and trust, and show respect
for each other as individuals with your own thoughts and needs. You
typically communicate well, show each other that you care, and don’t
suffocate each other being overly clingy. With this level of maturity,
you have what it takes to build a beautiful, stable relationship.
You’re cruising along the highway of love at top speed…so enjoy the
ride!
+++
Relationship Space
"It takes a loose rein to keep a marriage tight." - John Stevenson
Although there are no hard fast rules about what makes a relationship
work, many people will agree that trust and faith are fundamentals in a
long-standing and fulfilling relationship.
A lack of trust in your partner can manifest itself in a suffocating
attention to detail. This same suspicion can also keep you from getting
too close. Keeping a safe distance from your partner (a safe distance
can mean one thing for you and a different thing for your partner) can
leave him/her feeling unloved and alienated. As social animals, most of
us need a certain amount of warmth, visible attention, and interest
from our loved ones. But crowding your partner and not demonstrating
your faith in his/her judgment and/or integrity can have the same
seemingly paradoxical effect of driving him/her away.
Indeed, one can’t own and control another human being-but must let them
have freedom. And rarely can one remain entirely disengaged from a
loved one, without resulting in them feeling neglected and unloved.
Keeping yourself entirely out of your lover’s life is a surefire way to
extinguish a relationship.
The trick is to strike a balance of concern,
interest, affection, freedom, trust, and support. There is no perfect
ratio that applies to all relationships. Some people like constant
attention, while others need a lot of personal space and prefer to
bring up issues at a slower pace. A partner who feels your
whole-hearted trust and love will be more willing to divulge in you
his/her most inner feelings, to devote to the relationship and to you,
to give you the space that you need/desire, and the attention you love.
My Score: 40
Interpretation: According to this test, you give your partner quite a bit of space. This can mean several things.
Perhaps your partner prefers to be let alone. Or maybe you are the one
who requires space-in which case, make sure that your partner
understands your love for him/her. S/he could easily interpret your
detachment for not caring, so make sure to communicate your perspective
and show your love in other ways. Remember, there are no strict rules
for relationship success.
Another possibility is that you might not feel ready for a serious
‘coupledom’, which may translate into a fear of commitment-. In this
case, you have to consider why you are in the relationship, how
important it is to you, and whether you want to apply yourself a little
more in order to salvage it. Things might seem okay now, but your
partner will sooner or later catch on to your potentially overly casual
attitude, especially if s/he is on the other side of the spectrum. This
type of relationship tends to be difficult to sustain.
Or perhaps you simply aren’t enjoying your partner and have slipped
into a kind of lethargy. If that’s the case, ask yourself these
questions: Is this problem chronic? Why am I not into him/her anymore?
Why is the gap between us widening? Can these things be worked on? Why
and why shouldn’t I invest energy into this relationship? It might be
time to open the lines of communication to their full capacity and
potentially enlist the help of a couple counselor.
However, if things seem to be working out and
you and your partner are happy with the arrangement, you are a rare and
lucky exception. If this is the case, keep on doing whatever works - if
the couple is happy, nobody can claim that anything is wrong!
