You perform. You function. But there is a difference between performing and functioning from stability. Do you know which pattern your system runs under pressure — and what it costs you?
6questions
3 minaverage
1clear profile
Question 1 of 6
When pressure increases, what happens first for you?
I shift into a higher gear — I work harder and take control
I notice my energy draining or my focus starting to fade
It varies — sometimes everything accelerates, sometimes I unconsciously hold back
Question 2 of 6
What do people around you see most during a tough period?
That I solve it — even if it comes at a cost to myself
That I go quieter or withdraw more than usual
That I'm inconsistent — sometimes very sharp, sometimes hard to reach
Question 3 of 6
How do you recover after an intensive period?
I keep going — standing still feels unproductive or even uncomfortable
I need a lot of time, more than I'd like
Sometimes I recover quickly, sometimes it takes weeks — I can't plan it
Halfway. The next three questions are the most personal — and the most revealing.
Question 4 of 6
What has it cost you most over the past year?
Energy and recovery — I was 'on' for far too long
Opportunities I let slip because I had withdrawn
Confidence in myself — I no longer know what I can expect from myself
Question 5 of 6
Which situation do you recognise most?
I function best when something is at stake — pressure activates me
I know what I'm capable of, but under pressure I often don't show it
My best moments seem almost accidental — I can't reproduce them when I want to
Question 6 of 6 — final question
If you are honest: what are you actually looking for?
A way to keep going without it eventually breaking me
The energy or courage to move forward again — genuinely forward
Consistency — reliable access to my best self, especially when it counts
One more thing
This scan is about performing under pressure. Is something heavier going on right now?
For example low mood, exhaustion, or the feeling that you are genuinely stuck. This question does not count towards your profile — it only determines whether a programme is the right first step.
No, this really is about performance
A little — it is there, but I am functioning
Yes, more than performance alone is going on right now
Your HPA Profile
What I would recommend
Start with a conversation, not a programme
You indicated that more than performance alone is going on right now. In that case a self-directed programme is probably not your best first step — not because you are not ready, but because it is the wrong order.
Book a fifteen-minute conversation. Free of charge, online. Together we look at what is going on and what a sensible starting point would be. Sometimes that is one of my programmes, sometimes a psychologist colleague, sometimes your GP. You will know within a quarter of an hour — and then at least you know.
Your profile above still holds — it remains useful. It just does not decide on its own what is best for you right now.
Three more questions to help you further
Recommendation for you
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Leave your details and we will be in touch for a no-obligation conversation.
Are things genuinely not going well? Talk to your GP, or — in the Netherlands — call 113, free on 0800-0113, day and night, also anonymously via the chat at 113.nl. Outside the Netherlands, contact your local crisis line or emergency services.