Tag Archives: purple heart

Have you ever known someone that seems to always need to one up you on their stress? It was too common in graduate school to hear a conversation something like this:

“I have a test tomorrow and a ten page paper due.”

“I have two ten page papers due Friday and two tests this week.”

“Well, I have to work 15 hours, read 100 pages, and write my research proposal this weekend.”

School is an easy example, but people everywhere in all situations do the same thing, trying to one up each other. Are we really competing over I’m more stressed than you are?!? I will let you win because I want to avoid all the negative effects of stress. We seem to want others to validate our stress rather than our health. (more…)