¬
Identify Your Stress Level 

Many symptoms of excess stress are easy to self-diagnose. To help determine how much stress you experience on a daily basis, answer the following questions.

Yes      No
____   ____ 1. Are you easily startled or irritated?
____   ____ 2. Are you increasingly forgetful?
____   ____ 3. Do you have trouble falling or staying sleep?
____   ____ 4. Do you continually worry about events in your future?
____   ____ 5. Do you feel as if you are constantly under pressure to produce?
____   ____ 6. Do you frequently use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs to help you relax?
____   ____ 7. Do you often feel as if you have less energy than you need to finish the day?
____   ____ 8. Do you have recurrent stomachaches or headaches?
____   ____ 9. Is it difficult for you to find satisfaction in simple life pleasures?
____  ____ 10. Are you often disappointed in yourself and others?
____  ____ 11. Are you overly concerned with being liked or accepted by others?
____  ____ 12. Have you lost interest in intimacy or sex?
____  ____ 13. Are you concerned that you do not have enough money?

Experiencing some of the stress-related symptoms or answering “yes” to a few questions is normal. However, if you experience a large number of stress symptoms or you answered “yes” to a majority of the questions, you are likely experiencing a high level of stress. Take time out to develop effective stress-management techniques.

Source: Connect Core Concepts in Health, Twelfth Edition. 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.