How Stressed are YOU?

The first question that needs to be asked is "Do you experience stress in your life?" Have you experienced any stress in the last day? month? year? Pick one Yes Yes

Now, you might have noticed that you had to choose 'yes' above. The reason for that is that stress is a part of our everyday life. Having stress in our lives is not unhealthy; it's normal. How a person DEALS with the stress in his or her life can be healthy or unhealthy. Perhaps some of the skills in this section will help you look at how you deal with stress and offer better ways of coping.

To help you find your level of stress, check each question to which you agree. When you are finished, print the page for your records.

1. Are you cross with someone? Yes No
2. Do you feel afraid? Yes No
3. Are you “over anxious” about something? Yes No
4. Do you act impulsively? Yes No
5. Are you always tired? Yes No
6. Are you often bored? Yes No
7. Are you unable to concentrate for periods of time? Yes No
8. Do you often feel sad or lonely? Yes No
9. Do you worry all the time? Yes No
10. Does your heart pound? Yes No
11. Do you tremble? Yes No
12. Do you grind your teeth? Yes No
13. Is your mouth dry? Yes No
14. Do you perspire excessively? Yes No
15. Do you have stomach problems? Yes No
16. Do you have a stiff neck? Yes No
17. Does your lower back ache? Yes No
18. Do you have headaches? Yes No
19. Do you often have colds? Yes No
20. Are your feet and hands cold? Yes No
21. Do you suffer allergy or asthma attacks? Yes No
22. Are you using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs to an excess? Yes No
23. Do you find yourself watching television during most of your free time? Yes No
24. Are you overeating or under-eating? Yes No
25. Do you have trouble falling asleep? Yes No
26. Do you sleep more than 7-8 hours each night? Yes No
27. Are you becoming careless about the way you look? Yes No

If you checked three or more of the above questions, you could use some lessons in stress management. These are indicators that you are experiencing stress in your life. You’re not alone. Most of us need to learn to reduce stress in our lives.

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This program was developed by the West Virginia State Department of Education, the West Virginia Workplace Education Program, and the Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) V.