Chronic stress disorder test
Am I Too Stressed? 3 Minute Test & Screening
Self Tests
Am I too stressed? How much stress is too much? Use this short quiz to measure whether your stress level is too high.
Farah Fazel, PsyS
Medical ReviewerMarisa M. Tomasic, Ph.D.
Who Is This Stress Quiz For?
Answer the quiz questions below to see if you or a loved one may be suffering from too much stress.
The questions below relate to life experiences common among people who are enduring significant amounts of stress: emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event that feels frustrating, or out-of-control, or nerve-wracking, and it can be good in short bursts. However, chronic, or long-term, stress can have damaging effects on the body.
Please read each question carefully, and indicate how often you have experienced the same or similar challenges in the past few months.
How Accurate Is It?
This quiz is NOT a diagnostic tool. Mental health disorders can only be diagnosed by qualified mental health professionals.
What Is Stress?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, stress is a normal, human reaction. It's how the brain and body respond to any demand.
It's normal to have a high level of stress at one point or the other in our lives due to many life-changing scenarios and stressors. To prevent any health problems, it’s best to see a medical professional for treatment. The constant flow of stress hormones (including the so-called stress hormone cortisol) can take a toll on your body, causing it to age more quickly and making it prone to illnesses.
Some of the most common causes of acute or chronic stress are due to one or more of the following life stressors:
The death of a loved one
Divorce
Job loss
An increase in financial obligations or a decrease in earnings
Having to uproot your life and moving due to extenuating circumstances and out of your control
Chronic illness or injury
Taking care of an elderly or sick family member
A traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, theft, rape, or violence against you or a loved one
Psycom believes assessments can be a valuable first step toward getting treatment.
All too often people stop short of seeking help out of fear their concerns aren't legitimate or severe enough to warrant professional intervention.
Your privacy is important to us. All results are completely anonymous.
Alchemer is a flexible survey software tool built to handle all your unique needs. Please take my survey now
If you think you or someone you care about may be suffering from stress, anxiety, or any other medical health condition, PsyCom.net strongly recommends that you seek help from a mental health professional in order to receive a proper diagnosis and support. For those in crisis, we have compiled a list of resources (some even offer free or low-cost support) where you may be able to find additional help at: https://www.psycom.net/get-help-mental-health.
Stress FAQs
How can your doctor test your stress level?
There is no standardized test, outside of laboratory research settings, to formally diagnose stress because stress is subjective—what feels very stressful for one person may not cause high levels of stress for another.
Only the person experiencing stress can determine how severe it feels. A health care provider may use questionnaires to understand your stress and how it affects your life.
What diagnosis does stress go under?
Stress is not a psychiatric diagnosis, but it is closely linked to your mental health. Stress can cause physical and mental health problems and exacerbate existing problems. For example, if you often struggle to manage feelings of stress, you might develop anxiety or depression.
What causes high stress levels?
Anything that puts high demands or pressure on you can result in high stress levels, especially if you struggle to manage feelings of stress. Some common stressors that can lead to high levels of stress include high-pressure jobs, financial difficulties, taking on too much at once, conflicts at work or home, and failure to take time to relax.
What are the physical symptoms of stress?
Physical symptoms associated with stress can include headaches, high-blood pressure, aches and pains, racing heart, chest pain, muscle tension, jaw clenching, digestive issues, and more.
The physical symptoms of stress are plentiful and may vary from person to person.
How can we avoid stress?
Experiencing stress from time to time is normal, but it is important to prevent stress build up that leads to high levels of stress and possibly burnout. Some simple ways to avoid stress include finding effective ways to balance all your responsibilities, getting enough sleep, not taking on too much, eating a healthy diet, and taking part in physical activity.
What is acute stress disorder?
Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a type of anxiety disorder that may occur within one month after experiencing a traumatic event. ASD can last anywhere between 3 days and 1 month. It differs from posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD, but causes symptoms also seen in people with PTSD, such as dissociative symptoms, reexperiencing the traumatic events, and avoidance.
Does acute stress disorder go away?
Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a short-term condition and symptoms usually go away over time.
Consult with your doctor about the most effective form of treatment for ASD. Treatment may include a psychiatric evaluation, therapy, and medications. Many people with ASD are later diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When should I talk to a doctor about stress?
Talk to your doctor about stress if you are feeling overwhelmed, are reliant on drugs or alcohol to cope with the feelings of stress, have thoughts of hurting yourself, or are experiencing other related conditions, like anxiety or depression. Your doctor can provide advice for better managing your stress, prescribe medication, or refer you to a mental health professional for further diagnosis and treatment.
- The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). 5 Things You Should Know About Stress. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/. Accessed July 15, 2021.
- Mayo Clinic. Stress Symptoms: Effects on Your Body and Behavior. Accessed 4/11/2021.
- Child Mind Disorder.
Acute Stress Disorder Basics. Accessed 4/11/2021. - U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, National Center for PTSD. Acute Stress Disorder. Accessed 4/11/2021.
Notes: This article was originally published July 14, 2021 and most recently updated September 12, 2022.
Stress Quiz: Am I Stressed?
Stress is a natural part of life. But too much stress can negatively affect your health, especially if it goes unmanaged for an extended time.
Determining your stress level is important to your well-being. If you’re dealing with an unhealthy amount of stress, you can take steps to reduce stress and improve how you feel.
This short questionnaire is for anyone who wants to better understand how stressed they are when taking the test.
These questions can help you figure out your stress level and whether you need to reduce your stress level or seek the help of a healthcare or mental health professional.
If you’ve been wondering how stressed you are, taking a brief stress test online like this one can offer deeper insight.
This stress level test is not meant to be used as a diagnostic tool.
Based on your answers to the questions, you’ll receive a result that gives you an idea of how stressed you are. But the results won’t tell you whether your health is at risk from the stress you’re experiencing.
If you’re concerned about your stress levels, the physical symptoms of stress, or you’d like a health screening, consider seeing a trained medical professional, such as a doctor or mental health professional, for help.
Instructions
How stressed are you? This test will give you an idea of how much stress you are dealing with in your life right now.
Indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement. This takes most people about 5 minutes to complete. Take your time and answer truthfully for the most accurate results.
This online screening is not a diagnostic tool. Only a trained medical professional, like a doctor or mental health professional, can help you determine the next best steps for you.
How can I test my stress level?
You can test your stress level in many ways. The most effective option is to consult a healthcare or mental health professional for a health screening and professional medical advice. In the meantime, quizzes like this one may give you a general idea of how stressed you might be.
Do I have anxiety, or am I just stressed?
Anxiety and stress may share similar symptoms, but they’re two different experiences. Anxiety is a mental health condition, whereas stress isn’t. If you’re curious about whether you may have an anxiety disorder, consider speaking with a mental health professional. You can also visit Psych Central’s anxiety resource hub or read our article What Is Stress? to learn more.
What are the symptoms of stress?
The physical effects of stress can include a rapid heart rate, focused vision and alertness, tense muscles, and increased lung capacity. Other signs of stress may include high blood pressure, insomnia, changes in appetite, digestive issues, and more.
Everyone experiences stress differently, so you may not have each symptom listed.
How much stress level is normal?
There is no “normal” level of stress. Everybody has a unique stress tolerance and handles stress differently. It’s important to understand your stress level and seek help when you may be physically affected by stress. You can learn more about the impact of unhealthy stress levels in Psych Central’s article Can You Die From Stress?
When should I talk with a doctor about stress?
If you’re worried about stress side effects, you’re experiencing physical symptoms from prolonged stress, or you want to better understand your response to stress, consider speaking with a mental health professional.
Ready to start therapy? Our Find a Therapist resource may help.
➤ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Diagnosis: Online Test
1. Repeated, restless memories, images, thoughts about the stressful situation you have experienced
at all
a little
quite strong
2.
Repeating, disturbing dreams about stress events
not at all
a little
moderately
strong
very strong
3. Suddenly you felt or acted as if you were re-experiencing the stressful situation (as if you actually came back and revived it)
not at all
a little
moderately
strong
very strong
4. Feel very upset when something reminds you of the stress you experienced
not at all
a little
moderately
severely
very severely
5. Strong physiological reactions when something reminds you of the stressful experience (eg, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating)
none at all
slightly
moderately
strong
very strong
6. Avoided memories, thoughts or feelings related to the stress experienced
not at all
a little
moderately
severely
very severely
strongly
very strongly
8.
It was difficult to remember important episodes of the stressful event
not at all
a little
moderately
strong
very strong
9. You could not get rid of negative ideas about yourself, other people or the world around you (for example, thoughts such as: “I am bad; something is wrong with me; no one can be trusted ; the whole world around is dangerous…”)
not at all
a little
moderately
severely
very severely
10. Have you blamed yourself or someone else for what happened or for what happened after that
Not at all
A little
Moderately
Strongly
Very strongly
strong
very strong
12. Loss of interest in what used to please you
not at all
a little
moderately
strong
very strong
problems with positive emotions (for example, inability to feel happiness or love for loved ones)
not at all
a little
moderately
a lot
very strong
15.
Annoyance, outbursts of anger, or aggressive actions
not at all
a little
moderately
strongly
very strong
very much harm you
not at all
a little
moderately
severely
very severely
0005
Absolutely not
a little
strongly
very strongly
18. They felt nervousness,
were easily scared
A little
strongly
Very strong 9000 9000 9000 19. difficulty concentrating
not at all
a little
moderately
severe
very severe
20. Could not sleep or woke up often
not at all
a little
moderately
severely
very severely
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Test Online
Instructions: Answer all questions of the test without thinking about the answers for a long time.
The questionnaire will help assess the mental state of a person who has undergone a severe emotional shock
A healthy human psyche is mobile and flexible enough to easily endure everyday stress. But extreme events and negative experiences can unsettle even a hardened person. If you have experienced a traumatic event and you still feel its imprint on the specifics of your worldview, we recommend that you take an assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder. The questionnaire is available online, free of charge and does not require registration.
The Mississippi Scale, also known as the Mississippi Scale, was developed by American psychotherapists Kian, Keddel and Taylor in 1988. Initially, it was intended to diagnose mental disorders in combatants. Over time, the questionnaire was adapted for the civilian population, expanding the range of statements that are included in the test.
The questionnaire contains 22 items describing various traumatic situations:
- serious accident or fire;
- physical or sexual abuse;
- natural disaster - earthquake, hurricane or flood;
- military action or terrorist attack;
- evidence of death or serious injury;
- death of a loved one or loved one as a result of murder/suicide.
Post-traumatic stress disorder syndrome can result from a traumatic experience. It is included in the American diagnostic standard DSM-III, IV and in the European one - ICD-10.
The diagnosis of PTSD indicates a significant decrease in psychological stability, in which the meaning of life is lost, the structure of self-consciousness changes, and the worldview changes. Structural personality changes can be observed, up to the manifestation of unusual aggression and violence.
Contents
- Modern classification includes 4 types of syndrome:
- Who is this test intended for
- How long will the test take
- How to respond to a positive result
- What symptoms should be paid attention to
Modern classification includes 4 types of syndrome:
- Acute - occurs in the first days after stress and lasts about 2-3 months.
- Chronic - consists in a gradual increase in the signs of the disorder, causing nervous exhaustion, a change in character and interests.
- Deformation - occurs against the background of chronic with a long course of the disease. Leads to the formation of neuroses and phobias.
- Delayed - appears 3-6 months after injury in response to a specific trigger.
A short-term post-traumatic reaction is considered normal. Studies show that 80% of trauma survivors cope with stress and eventually return to a normal mental state. 20% may develop pathological mental processes that require mandatory medical supervision.
Who is this test intended for?
The questionnaire is designed to assess the condition of people who have experienced a severe mental shock. It is suitable for self-diagnosis of adults, but is not intended for children. It is recommended that a child with suspected SIRT be shown to a specialist without delay. He uses professional screening techniques to make an accurate diagnosis.
Children's psyche is very sensitive and suffers more from trauma. Therefore, it is important to take measures to eliminate post-traumatic disorder as early as possible.
