Stress & Your Health: Assess Your Stress

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Assess Your Stress

Master Your Anxiety

How Stress Affects Health

Physical Signs of Stress

How to Reduce Stress

When you are exposed to long periods of stress, your body gives warning signals that something is wrong. Take the following self-test to help you find out if stress or anxiety is affecting your health.

Stress and your health: When should you seek help?

Consider how you have felt over the past six months, and rate your response to the following statements:

	I feel tired or have a lack of energy. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always



	I have trouble sitting still or concentrating. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always



	I have problems getting to or staying asleep at night. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always



	I feel pain in my chest and shortness of breath. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always



	I am constipated or have diarrhea. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always



	I feel nervous, and shake or sweat a lot. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always



	I have an upset stomach and muscle aches, especially in my back, neck, or shoulders. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always



	I have headaches. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always



	I smoke and/or drink alcohol. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always



	I have gained or lost more than 10 pounds. Never Rarely Sometimes Fairly often Always

Back to Stressed Out

Information provided by Jerome F. Kiffer, MA, Department of Health Psychology and Applied Psychophysiology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Reviewed by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, June, 2005.