Do i stress too much quiz

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.

Sep 12, 2022

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.

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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.

How to get rid of stress and nerves - MyGenetics Blog

In any area of life, a person faces stressful situations. Difficulties at work and in relationships, traffic jams, queues at the store. All these circumstances negatively affect the nervous system. If you do not find a way out of stress, the body begins to suffer from overwork.

The more new negative situations, the more stress worsens the general condition of the body. Every day you are looking for ways to distract and relax, but it is not always possible to do this effectively, sometimes you need the help of a specialist. But do not despair, because there are methods of self-exit from negative situations. nine0003

Effect of stress on the human body

In addition to the psychological impact, the consequences of severe stress have a physiological effect on the body. And it can not be called positive. Stress manifests itself through the following signs:

Increased blood sugar levels. This reaction of the body activates internal defense mechanisms. But frequent releases of an additional dose of glucose leads to the development of diabetes mellitus. nine0014
Weakening of the immune system through a decrease in the production of white blood cells. A person begins to get sick much more often for no apparent reason.
Tight muscles that cannot relax begin to self-destruct. This also applies to some internal organs.
Vasodilation, the focus of which leads to disruption of the cardiovascular system.
Metabolism failure. The accumulation of toxins that are not removed in a timely manner simply poisons us from the inside. nine0014

In addition, the person becomes irritable and aggressive. Normal sleep is lost, which is necessary for a good rest. Anxiety and frequent headaches develop. All this together can lead to a complete breakdown, which will have to be fought already in the hospital ward.

Signs of stress

The symptoms of severe stress are varied. It is important to identify them in time to prevent deterioration. What should be of concern: nine0003

Sudden local pain in the abdomen or head.
Surges of weakness, apathy and depression.
Increased emotional arousal, inability to calm down quickly.
Frequent smoking and drinking.
Memory impairment and delayed reactions.
Need to go to the toilet frequently.

These points indicate that stress is already having too much of a negative impact on you. If you have one or more of these signs, you should think about how to get rid of the tension that has arisen. Moreover, this must be done quickly, avoiding complications at the psychological level. nine0003

Causes of stress

What can lead a person to that line when the stress trap is about to slam shut? There can be many reasons, and some of them may seem completely harmless. There are 7 steps to stress that each of us goes through:

Extra work load.
Watching bad news.
Disruption of planned activities.
Bad ecology. If the internal detoxification system fails, this factor is especially dangerous. To check how well your body copes with environmental stress, you can use the MyDetox DNA test. nine0014
Encounters with aggressive people.
Unsuccessful relationship.
Mistakes in work or study.

These reasons gradually destroy our inner protection. As a result, you begin to break down on loved ones, thereby only exacerbating the internal pressure.

Genetics

Scientists have proven that stress resistance is transmitted to a person at the genetic level. Some people can easily deal with any situation, while remaining almost calm. Others are baffled by even the simplest situation. Such differences make it impossible to use the same methods of coping with stress for all people. nine0003

Some gene variants suggest that destructive consequences develop too quickly. People with this set of heredity should avoid irritants at all costs. The work of our nervous system is completely dependent on the genes that we inherited from our ancestors.

How to relieve stress

It is better to make the way out of a stressful situation complex. So you can not only relieve the accumulated tension, but also significantly strengthen your body. Having picked up several options for prevention and treatment, try not to miss the exercises and prescriptions of specialists. Then the methods of dealing with stress will help you. nine0003

Proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle helps us not only to maintain the body, the body as a whole in order. Proper food, frequent walks in the fresh air, the ability to enjoy the little things make us more resistant to negativity. Even very acute stress cannot undermine the condition of someone who takes care of himself at all levels.

Medical therapy

This method of stress relief is prescribed for those who suffer from chronic overexertion. This condition threatens to develop into depression, therefore, after the examination, the specialist prescribes one of the auxiliary drugs. Otherwise, the psychological conflict grows into a physical one. As a means of drug therapy, the following are used: nine0003

Sedative or sedative medicines.
Antidepressants for the normalization of chemical metabolism in the body.
Normotimics for the regulation of the emotional state.
Nootropics that regulate the functioning of the brain.
Tranquilizers for phobias and general tension.
Antipsychotics that stabilize the production of neurotransmitters.

Physical activity

You don't have to run or go to the gym every day. It is important to choose an activity and exercises to your liking, so that it brings you pleasure, and not doom and shortness of breath. It can be dancing, football or swimming. A way out of a state of stress will give sports shooting or a regular game of tennis. The psychologist advises once a month to visit the hippodrome or the stable, the horses perfectly relieve stiffness and tension. nine0003

Breathing exercises and yoga

The combination of several calming techniques in yoga makes this an almost perfect way to relax and relieve fatigue. You simultaneously give the body a little exercise, breathe and learn to meditate. This successfully helps to deal with stress and all the troubles of the world. Just 20 minutes a day is enough to feel much better and calmer.

Aromatherapy

Choosing and using the right scent is a unique way to activate your body's hidden powers. The main thing to know for what to use this or that essential oil: nine0003

Citrus fruits, rose, mint and marjoram will help relieve anxiety and irritability.
Sandalwood, lavender, bergamot and chamomile are responsible for improving mood.
Fears and phobias are best cured by violet, rose and tea tree.
Ylang-ylang, vanilla and juniper have a relaxing effect.
Use jasmine, lavender and lemon for concentration.

Psychotherapy

It is worth resorting to the help of psychotherapists when a person himself is not able to recover from stress. Protracted apathy and depression, outbursts of aggression out of the blue are the first signs that it is time for you to see a specialist. Do not be critical of this practice. Modern psychology gives high results in the fight against stress.

DNA analysis

To determine your level of stress resistance, you can conduct a genetic examination. This will help to identify the number of genes responsible for protection from negative external influences. That way, you'll know exactly what to use to deal with stress quickly and easily. Specialists conducting DNA analysis will give you clear recommendations, as well as methods and ways out of stress. Do you want to know what genetic inheritance you got? To help genetic research MyExpert and MyNeuro. nine0003

Folk remedies

Soothing baths with sage, chamomile and lavender are advised to combat stress. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the water (see recommendations above). Make sure the water is warm, just above room temperature. This will help relieve pain and stiffness in the muscles, narrow the blood vessels. Folk methods of getting out of stress help in the early stages.

Terminals

Stress is a common occurrence in today's world. Not only adults suffer from it, teenagers are also affected by negativity. It is worth making sure that you do not allow the strengthening of negative situations, get away from problems in time or effectively solve them, and reduce the level of conflict in your circle of friends. Then you can remain calm and balanced, despite the environment. nine0003

How successful people deal with stress: Musk, Bezos, Durov and others

To avoid stress, Mark Zuckerberg always wears the same clothes, Tim Cook gets up at 4 in the morning, and Jeff Bezos laughs a lot. We tell how these and other well-known businessmen cope with stress

Audio version of the material:

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Now you can not only read but also listen to RBC Trends materials. Search for and subscribe to the Sounds Like a Trend podcast on Apple Podcasts, Yandex.Music, Castbox, or any other platform where you listen to podcasts. nine0003

Elon Musk: “People must learn to ignore fear”

Photo: NASA / Bill Ingalls / WikiMedia Commons

The SpaceX founder tweeted that the life of a millionaire is not constant entertainment:

“Reality lies in beautiful take-offs, terrible falls and endless stress. But people don't want to hear about the last two things."

Musk says one of his biggest stressors is building and growing companies:

“Starting a company is a very difficult thing. A friend of mine has a saying: "Building a company is like eating glass and staring into the abyss." You have to do a lot of things that you don't like. You will have to put in a lot of effort and experience a lot of stress. And if the company dies, you will experience great pain, as if you experienced the death of a real person.

The businessman is sure that stress is inextricably linked with the fear of failure. Musk urges not to be afraid and go towards your goal and cites his company as an example:

“Three times we failed to launch SpaceX, and when for the fourth time we succeeded with the last money, I felt the stress go away.

Fear is finite, hope is infinite. We [businessmen] are afraid of failure, but this does not prevent us from going to the goal. People must learn to ignore irrational fear. But even if the fear is justified, it is still worth continuing to act.”

Tim Cook: Don't Pay Attention to Cynics

Photo: Austin Community College / WikiMedia Commons

At the University of Glasgow honorary degree ceremony, Apple's CEO urged students not to listen to the cynics. In his opinion, there are too many of them in the modern world and they make you feel great stress:

“Today the world is full of cynics, but you should not pay attention to them. Otherwise, they will poison your mind, and you will see the world in a negative light and think that you will not achieve anything. Even if your friends are cynics, don't listen to them because one day you might believe them and mess up your life." nine0003

Tim Cook says getting up early at 4 a.m. is another way to deal with stress:

“I love looking at user comments [about Apple products] for the first hour to focus on the people who are so important to our company. And then I go to the gym and work out for an hour because it helps me reduce stress.”

Mark Zuckerberg: “I don’t waste energy on stupid and frivolous things”

Photo: Drew Angerer / Getty Images

Zuckerberg always wears a gray Nike T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. During a public appearance at Facebook headquarters, he revealed that it helps him reduce stress.

“I try to live in such a way that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything other than improving my [Facebook] community. There are a number of psychological theories according to which even small decisions like “what to wear”, “what to eat for breakfast” are tiring and stressful. And I don't waste energy on such stupid and frivolous things. I want to dedicate myself to creating the best products and services, <...> connecting everyone in the world and enabling them to stay connected with the people they love. This worries me the most. It may sound silly, but that's why I wear a gray T-shirt every day." nine0003

In an interview with The New Yorker, Zuckerberg's wife Priscilla Chan said that her husband, in case of stressful situations at work, simply sits down at the computer and tries to solve them as quickly as possible:

as a result, he injured his hip.”

Jack Dorsey: 'Creatively adapt to stress'

Photo: Marco Bello / Getty Images

The head of Twitter said that stress helps him develop and does not let him relax:

“I'm part of two very different companies [Twitter and Square] and I see this as a unique perspective. It helps me develop and treat stress as normal. I adapt creatively to stress and see it as a stimulus for new ideas. ”

But the businessman does not hide the fact that working in two companies is exhausting, so he began to care more about his health:

“I began to take meditation very seriously and spend more time and energy on physical exercises. I also began to follow a more strict diet. I had to do it just to stay afloat.” nine0003

Jeff Bezos: “Once there is a problem, I take action”

Photo: Seattle City Council from Seattle / WikiMedia Commons

The Amazon founder said that laughter helps him cope with stress:

failures and disappointments? I laugh a lot [laughs for a long time].”

Bezos also believes that most stress comes from being inactive:

“Most of the stress comes from being inactive. As soon as a problem arises, I immediately begin to solve it: call, send emails and take other steps. Even if the problem doesn’t go away, the very fact that I do something at least reduces stress.” nine0003

Pavel Durov: “We must believe that everything that happens is for the best”

Photo: Chris Ratcliffe / Bloomberg

Durov wrote in his telegram channel that some mental habits and principles of stoicism help him reduce stress:

“Mental habits are a good way to reduce stress: you have to believe that everything that happens is for the best. Stoic techniques, such as negative visualization and total indifference, also work well. Living close to nature makes it easier to apply the above methods [to reduce stress].” nine0003

In another post on his channel, Durov expressed the opinion that people's stress comes from the culture of overconsumption that large corporations inculcate. The businessman is sure that if you consume less, many problems can be avoided:

“If you are overweight, you will be inundated with advertisements for gym memberships or dietary supplements. But the key to losing weight is eating less, not new shoes and protein powder.

Or if you're struggling with headaches and stress, they [big corporations] will try to sell you headache pills and antidepressants. But to really reduce stress, you should start getting more sleep and walking instead of consuming entertainment content and browsing social media late at night.” nine0003

Giorgio Armani: “For me, stress is a stimulus”

Photo: Benoit Tessier / Reuters

A well-known trendsetter believes that the biggest stress is business:

“Success like mine requires full dedication.

Learn more