Stress helper device- Concept 1 - recording stressful events

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This device attaches magnetically to either side of your shirt. It is thin, lightweight, and designed not to be seen. On the inside, it has electrodermal activity and heart rate sensors that monitor your level of arousal. On the outside, it has a small camera and microphone. When it detects a high level of arousal, it captures your biometric data alongside a brief clip of video and audio to identify the moment. Later on, you can review the day's stressful moments and even share them with others if you wish. This is meant to provide some insight into the causes of your anxiety, and can also serve as part of a diary of stressful experiences, of the sort used in cognitive-behavioral therapy.



Would you like a device like this?
Do you think it would be helpful to record stressful events?
How should it look? Do you want to hide it, or make a visual statement? Where would you wear it?

Not 100% sure about it. I think most people with AS know when they are stressed. It might stress them more to see data that confirms their heart rate etc. was through the roof.

I think that's a brilliant idea because it would allow one to really track his reactions, which is much better than to rely on own perceptions or memories.

It would not stress me to know I am stressed. It might surprise me to see when I am stressed and to what degree. I may place importance on events that are not really where the initial problem exists. I may feel stressed, for example, by the something in the environment and then the appearance of say, a person, might focus my perception of stress rather than I identifying the "lead up" to what makes me aware of stress - does that make sense? A hypothetical scenario, but I have been trying to do this myself by mindfully observing my physiological responses and ensuing thoughts and reactions. When I pay attention in this way I am often surprised. I may not blame a lone 'smell', for example, for sensory overload - but I learned that one particular smell was the button for a strong reaction. It happened consistently as I was exposed to it. I would have thought of it as just one irritant in my environment, but it turns out it alone is a significant irritant and that by simply treating the source which is not hygiene but a factor involving wind and a vent, I can eliminate one problem in my environment. I actually paid attention to the thoughts that ensued after exposure to this smell and how wound up I got, which continued to build into almost a rage - quite internalized, but very intense.

So, I can see the use of a biofeedback type of instrument. Maybe some people would be anxious - I absolutely get that. But I think for myself, I would, as I said of the other devices, become obsessed. These concepts fascinate me to no end. So, I would enjoy using them, would adhere to their regular use, they would - for me - contribute to stress reduction just for the sheer interest they generate - and the big bonus is they would be very, very useful for me, doc, and interested researchers. I am so interested in these concepts. I'd like them now, thank you

I think this would be really useful.

When I'm in too bad of shape I lose memory of what I've said after I leave that state. Having a record of what I've said, triggered automatically, is something I've actively wanted.

Knowing what's happened, being able to analyze that data after the fact, that is useful.

Like biofeedback.

Based on the title, I thought you were talking about journaling, which creates a record.

It personally takes me a long time to interpret emotionally charged events, and it seems, to me, like the weight of a pager-like device on my lapel, a flashing light, or a sound, would be just more stimuli in a sensory overload situation.

If someone volunteers to be watched, you might monitor their vital signs from a distance.

In my case, I'll bet you would get a pretty deadpan response, until I work things out, much later.

Thanks everyone. We're aggregating all of your replies together, and using them to develop our concepts. Getting this feedback from the WP community has been extremely helpful.

I have a few follow-up questions for this "stress snapshot" concept:
How would you like to see the data? Photos/videos of stressful moments? Sound recordings? An annotated timeline/calendar?

Our drawing shows something a bit bulky. If we could make it into a sleeker, more beautiful accessory, would you wear it? Or would you prefer it to disappear?

I like this idea, but I know I wouldn't wear it. I usually don't wear shirts with collars, and it doesn't seem like it would work too well on, say, t-shirts. Plus, people would always ask what it is, which would mean I have to talk to them. Perhaps if it was hidden and not bulky or inconvenient to wear.

Sound recordings would be great. Speech to text isn't good enough to not have the recordings and I want to know word for word what I said in those periods of time.

What else went on would be incredibly useful to, but in my case, when I'm in a post-meltdown situation, I will actually manage doing type of self analysis that I can't do any other point in time, will talk about it verbally, because of being in a mental state where I'm only partially functional, and will literally not remember any of what I've said, just that I wish I remembered it. After saying the same basic ideas multiple times I'll be able to pick some bits through the memory blocks.