Understanding Stress Through Data Visualization: A Couple’s Journey

For many, stress feels like an abstract force, a constant background hum in the symphony of daily life. But what if we could visualize its touchpoints, its peaks and valleys, its patterns and triggers? Jimi, a 36-year-old based in the U.K., decided to find out. In a two-year experiment with his girlfriend, Aurelie, they tracked their stress levels using an app Jimi created called Bearable. The insights they gained from the data weren’t just about recognizing triggers; they were about understanding themselves better.

"I find it helpful for long-term perspective, which we (humans) tend to be bad at. It also has an unburdening CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) element, similar to naming your emotions. For me, it acts as a good journaling prompt, allowing me to reflect on how the stress made me feel and how I resolved it," Jimi shared.

The visual representation of their stressors provided a unique perspective. As expected, work, housing, and family consistently ranked high on the stress meter. However, the order fluctuated, highlighting how life’s stressors ebb and flow over time.

More importantly, this data-driven approach gave Jimi and Aurelie a shared language to discuss their mental well-being. "We’ve been more open about when we’re stressing each other out, how it makes us feel, and how to make changes," Jimi explained. This newfound transparency fostered greater empathy and understanding within their relationship.

Their experience resonates with the principles of stress management experts like Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, a psychology instructor specializing in resilience and stress. "Awareness around our stressors and stress patterns can give us some pretty good data to be able to work with them in a well way," she confirmed.

But acknowledging stressors is only the first step.

Dr. Hanley-Dafoe emphasizes the importance of recognizing both helpful and unhelpful coping mechanisms. While some strategies offer temporary relief, others can exacerbate stress in the long run.

"We will find that some coping strategies are adaptive and helpful for providing some relief, while others are maladaptive and potentially perpetuate stress," she noted.

In a world where stress is often seen as an unavoidable monster we must simply endure, Jimi and Aurelie’s experience highlights a more empowering approach: understanding and managing it through awareness, communication, and knowledge.

As Jimi poignantly stated, looking back at the data isn’t just about pinpointing the "what" of stress, it’s about uncovering the "how"

"Looking back at all this data, it’s not just about seeing what stressed us out, but understanding how we’ve grown from it. It’s helped us focus on solutions and become closer as a couple. For me, it’s not just about managing stress but learning how to live better with it."