STRESS CHECKLIST

Become more aware of what is called “stress”. Check all of the following symptoms of “stress” that you have experienced in the past month.

___confusion
___difficulty making decisions
___disoriented
___in shock
___difficulty concentrating
___grief
___depression
___fear
___feeling helpless or hopeless
___anger
___suspiciousness
___anxiety
___increased heart rate
___rapid breathing
___elevated heart rate
___headaches
___excessive sweating
___changes in eating
___dizzy spells
___feeling tired
___relationship conflicts
___loss of interest in sex
___lower quality of work/lower grades
___feeling less productive than normal
___feeling overwhelmed
___low motivation
___loss of sense of humor
___impulsive behavior

__________________________
*
___nightmares
___persistent thoughts of trauma
___difficulty remembering things
___irritability that is hard to control
___hostility that is hard to control
___feeling “dazed” or “numb”
___feeling panic
___difficulty sleeping
___feeling restless
___feeling easily startled
___disturbing thoughts/images
___a sense of reliving a fearful experience
___less interest in things I normally enjoy
___feeling detached from others
___fear of death/dying
___increased use of alcohol/drugs

Consider how long have you been experiencing these symptoms with no relief and
how often you experience these symptoms.

Think about a scale of 1 to 10, and ask yourself how intense has your overall stress level been in the past month?

This checklist includes cognitive, affective, physical and behavioral symptoms of stress. The symptoms above the line lists what are considered more typical, expected, or “normal” reactions to stress.
These symptoms can often occur when experiencing a stressful situation and should subside when the situation passes. However, people may experience prolonged, diffuse, and generalized stressors which do not pass or to diminish due to unresolved fears or concerns.

These symptoms may become more intense and/or persist for an extended period of
time and could cause significant distress and disruption in one’s life and examining the frequency, intensity and duration of these symptoms and their impact on one’s ability to function in daily tasks could help to assess if further intervention might be necessary.

While it might be considered a “normal” reaction to experience some of these symptoms in response to stress, if they are causing significant levels of distress or disrupting a person’s ability to function in life,seeking help and support from friends, family, and/or a mental health professional can help to
alleviate the difficulties.

*The symptoms under the line lists some more serious indicators of stress. These symptoms are often more intense and are likely to cause significant difficulties in a person’s ability to function. It is recommended that someone who is experiencing these acute symptoms seek help from a mental health professional to aid in developing effective coping strategies.