Is Stress Negatively Affecting You?

Is Stress Negatively Affecting You?

Check off the physical signs of stress that you are experiencing regularly:

o   Headaches

o   Muscle pain, especially back pain

o   Indigestion

o   Diarrhea

o   Appetite changes

o   Jaw tightening, tooth grinding, TMJ

o   Weakness and fatigue

o   Insomnia

Check off the emotional signs of stress that you are experiencing regularly:

o   Become irritable or grouchy over little things

o   Are easily angered

o   Feel anxiety that you cannot resolve

o   Feel as if everything that might have been fun is now a burden to do

o   Frequent loss of concentration

o   Making more mistakes at work than usual

o   Becoming accident prone

o   Feeling frozen about where to start each day or activity

Check off the signs of poor self-care that you are experiencing regularly:

o   Stopped exercise regimens

o   Eating more food or more junk food

o   Experiencing weight gain, especially around your middle

o   Drinking more alcohol to relax

o   Drinking more caffeine for energy to get going in the morning

o   Not dressing with as much care

o   Paying less attention to personal appearance, like tidy clothing or makeup

o   Decrease in leisure time and pleasant contact with friends or family

Total Items Checked:______

0-3 = You are sailing along without serious effects of stress and should teach others how you do it!

4-5 = Stress is starting to interfere with health or wellbeing.  Take some self care steps.

6-7 = Reevaluate now!  Stress is affecting your wellbeing.

8 or more = Talk to someone immediately about how to diminish stress today. 

Taken from “The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques Workbook” by Margaret Wehrenberg