Let's start with R6.
R6 supplies current and voltage to power IC1, LM3915 via V+ at pin-3.
With R6 = 47kΩ, the maximum current that can be supplied to IC1 and still maintain V+ at 5V is
(9 - 5.1)/47k = 85μA
That appears to be rather low.
Making R6 = 1kΩ means R6 will supply 4mA and keep V+ at 5V.
Secondly, note that your thread title is "stress meter".
This circuit measures skin conductivity, not stress.
My brief 2¢.if you want to give me the equations to find R1 and VR1, R2, C1, R4, R5 R6
by Aaron Carman
by Jake Hertz
by Aaron Carman