Stress busting: Discover your stress triggers based on your Enneagram personality type
Find out how to manage your emotions based on your Enneagram test results
Text: Jo
Living in Singapore, high levels of stress are not new to us. Even BC (Before Covid), studies found that a staggering 92 per cent of working Singaporeans were feeling stressed — 8 per cent higher than the global average at 84 per cent. Given that we’re now mid-pandemic, it’s safe to say that our propensity for stress and burnout is at an all-time high. What’s essential is learning what our stress triggers are, and how to manage stress effectively. This can be done based on your Enneagram personality type.
Enneagram may sound like an uncomfortable medical procedure, but it is in fact a circle-shaped tool that classifies human personalities into nine different types. The types all relate to one another, and it works by revealing patterns in how people interpret the world and manage their emotions.
While claims for its ancient origin have never been substantiated, what is evident is that the Enneagram theory has been recognised across cultures, races and genders for centuries as it taps into something universal in the nature of human beings. Indeed, today it’s used globally in high-stakes environments such as hospitals and mental health clinics for neurological insight.
Cindy Leong, a relationship coach and Enneagram trainer at the Relationship Studio has been using the Enneagram to understand the behaviour of her clients for the past seven years. “Whether it’s to assist with personal development, business management or relationship issues, the Enneagram provides individuals with a stronger understanding of how their mind works, highlighting tendencies, patterns and blocks,” she says.
To better understand your stress triggers and how to deal with stress effectively, you first have to work out your Enneagram personality type. While there are many Enneagrams online, few of them give an entirely accurate result (it’s always best to see a specialist), but Cindy recommends using the online Enneagram test found here.
Here are some basic highlights of each type:
Type One, The Perfectionist: principled, purposeful, self-controlled and perfectionistic
Type Two, The Helper: generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing and possessive
Type Three, The Achiever: adaptable, excelling, driven, and image-conscious
Type Four, The Individualist: expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed and temperamental
Type Five, The Observer: perceptive, innovative, secretive and isolated
Type Six, The Loyalist: engaging, responsible, anxious and suspicious
Type Seven, The Enthusiast: spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive and scattered
Type Eight, The Challenger: self-confident, decisive, wilful and confrontational
Type Nine, The Peacemaker: receptive, reassuring, complacent and resigned
Once you’ve determined your Enneagram personality type, you can start to delve deeper into yourself. Says Cindy; “Stress is a normal part of life that can be managed as long as we are adequately skilled to deal with it. Understanding your Enneagram type will help with building resilience and overcoming your personality's individual challenges.”
Here, she gives her take on what causes you stress, how you react, and how you can better deal:
Type One, The Perfectionist
Stress triggers: Being surrounded by irresponsibility. You also have a harsh inner critical voice which scolds you for slacking off or when you make mistakes
Your reaction: You can be overcritical of those who you deem as careless
How to deal: Learn tools to relax and give yourself permission to just ‘be’. Spend time with your fun-loving friends or family to get you back on track
Type Two, The Helper
Stress triggers: Not being appreciated, especially when you have dedicated time and energy to others
Your reaction: You become demanding and aggressive to those who you feel have disappointed you
How to deal: Learn how to say “no” and set healthy boundaries. And show yourself some kindness — take yourself on a date, or explore somewhere new
Type Three, The Achiever
Stress triggers: As a goal-orientated Enneagram personality type, it drives you crazy when something gets in the way of you achieving your dreams
Your reaction: You’re quick to lose motivation and have a tendency to slip into depression
How to deal: Practice mindfulness and get in touch with your authentic feelings, needs and desires. Spending time with people who know you well (the ones you don’t need to impress) will calm you down and revive you
Type Four, The Individualist
Stress triggers: You have a lot of opinions and points to get across — when you feel these are being unheard by others it can trigger stress and unhappiness
Your reaction: Deeply emotional, you suffer with feelings of melancholy and hurt
How to deal: Be with nature; go for a hike or try Earthing. Express your emotions by writing about them or through another form of art
Type Five, The Investigator
Stress triggers: You’re the Enneagram personality type who becomes easily drained by an overwhelming demand of your time and resources
Your reaction: You tend to go inside yourself, becoming emotionally detached. Aggression may show at some point
How to deal: Get in touch with your feelings and talk it out with someone you trust. Also, sticking to routines will ease your anxiety levels
Type Six, The Loyalist
Stress triggers: As a creature of habit, fear over events out of your control and uncertainty that surrounds new situations can set you off
Your reaction: You may experience anxiety attacks and become overly needy, irrational and emotional
How to deal: Practice gratitude. List things you’re thankful for each day. Mindful meditation is also great for this Enneagram personality type
Type Seven, The Enthusiast
Stress triggers: You can over commit to too many things at once, which leads to being stressed about promises made
Your reaction: You can be overly critical, angry and nitpicking
How to deal: Find joy in ordinary, peaceful moments. Schedule alone time away from external stimulation to find a way back to you
Type Eight, The Challenger
Stress triggers: When you’re not in control you feel that you appear weak
Your reaction: You grow even more controlling, but battle with inward aggression which can lead to withdrawal
How to deal: Cardio exercise and other physically demanding activities will dissipate your stress. Also, face your emotions. Give yourself space to process and to understand why you feel wound-up
Type Nine, The Peacemaker
Stress triggers: Standing up for yourself is not your strong point. And when you have to make a decision, your heart beats faster
Your reaction: Unsure of how to release your stress, you can become passive aggressive
How to deal: Time away to experience quiet reflection will help soothe your mind. Looking after a plant or a pet will also fulfil your caring nature, and give you a relaxing distraction
Cindy Leong is an Enneagram relationship coach at Relationship Studio. She is also the resident love expert at MediaCorp FM Class 95.
