October 14, 2021

Is Your Stress Out Of Control? Take The Quiz To Find Out

 Stress is a natural part of the human experience, but too much stress can be detrimental to your health. Use this simple quiz to self-assess so you can take action when (or before!) your stress becomes chronic.

Before we get into the Q and A portion, we’ll cover some basics about stress. This information can help you make informed decisions about your stress management plan. At the end of the quiz, we’ll also cover some natural ways to manage stress.

Disclaimer: We aren’t mental health professionals, and we don’t pretend to be. The quiz and other contents of this article are meant to be informative and help you self-assess your stress. This article isn’t a replacement for a diagnosis or advice from a qualified therapist, counselor, or healthcare provider.

What Is Stress?

Stress is your body’s response to pressure. Sources of pressure can be physical, mental, or emotional. Feeling overwhelmed, tense, and on guard are all signs of stress.

Believe it or not, stress can actually be a positive thing. It helps us stay alert when we need to perform, such as during a test or competition. And for our hunter-gatherer ancestors, the biological responses to stress — like slowed digestion and increased heart rate — helped them survive when they needed to run from predators.

We don’t have to run from lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) these days, but stress can be triggered or aggravated by many things. Some common sources of stress include:

  • Work
  • School
  • Finances
  • Relationships
  • Big, sudden changes like births, deaths, and moving

The human body can handle occasional peaks in stress. It’s when stress goes unmanaged that chronic stress can start to take a toll on your physical and mental health.

How Does Chronic Stress Affect Your Health?

Your body isn’t designed to be in stress mode for the long term. When stress continues to linger and consistently causes feelings of overwhelm, that’s considered chronic stress.

Some common symptoms of stress are:

  • Inability to focus
  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Low libido
  • Change in appetite
  • Digestive issues

If your symptoms of stress don’t seem to be giving you a break, they can take a toll on your health over time. The long-term effects of stress on the body add up and can result in:

  • Weakened immunity
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Obesity

Stress can manifest in many different ways, so the lists above are by no means exhaustive. If you notice the physical effects of stress, emotional stress symptoms, or think you may have health problems caused by stress — it’s worth taking a closer look at your stress levels and underlying factors.

Am I Too Stressed? The Stress Quiz

You’ll need a pen and paper or your favorite digital note-taking tool to complete this quiz. There are no right or wrong answers. Simply note whether you relate with A, B, C, or D, and we’ll help you assess your results at the end.

  1. Do you have trouble staying focused on the task at hand?
A - Naw, I’m laser-focused.
B - Sometimes, but it doesn’t interrupt my work, learning, or conversations.
C - Pretty often, actually.
D - Squirrel!Sorry, what were you saying? (Yeah, I’m that person.)
  1. What’s your current relationship with food like?
A - I’m all about a healthy, balanced diet.
B - I eat a whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s once in a blue moon. But who doesn’t?!
C - I can admit that my diet and eating habits could use some work.
D - I consistently forget to eat and/or I consistently overindulge.
    1. Would you rather stay home or do something on your own instead of joining family, friends, and peers?
    A - No way. Let’s hang and get this party started!
    B - Sure, sometimes I’d rather get into a good book. But I like to see folks, too.
    C - Yeah, I guess you could say I have introverted tendencies. I do get out here and there, though.
    D - Yes. I’ve missed out on holidays, birthdays, or special events because I didn’t want to socialize.
      1. Do you get headaches often?
      A - No. Lucky me.
      B - I get the occasional headache.
      C - Yes, I commonly get headaches.
      D - Yes, headaches are a normal occurrence for me.
        1. How would you describe your current outlook on life?
        A - I couldn’t be luckier to be surrounded by the people and opportunities in my life.
        B - I have ups and downs like everyone, but the good far outweighs the bad.
        C - It feels like I have a lot of obstacles to face. Some days are harder than others.
        D - I can’t seem to get ahead or do anything right. Most days are challenging.
          1. Do you find yourself turning to not-so-good habits (drinking, smoking, etc.) when you’re feeling stressed?
          A - No.
          B - Here and there, but it’s not a problem.
          C - Frequently, but not consistently.
          D - Yes, and I know it’s not great for me.
            1. Do you often feel irritated, annoyed, and short-tempered?
            A - Nope. Life is groovy.
            B - Occasionally. Like when someone eats the last of the ice cream.
            C - Yes, things often get under my skin.
            D - I struggle with this most of the time.
              1. How have you been sleeping?
              A - Like a log in a peaceful meadow.
              B - Sometimes I have trouble falling or staying asleep, but overall I’d say it’s pretty good.
              C - Sleep is a struggle pretty often. I get a good night in here and there.
              D - I’ve been staring at the ceiling most nights, watching my thoughts race by.

                Your Stress Quiz Results

                Did you answer A or B to all of the above? It doesn’t sound like stress is a negative force in your life. That said, we all respond to stress differently. So if you feel stress is impacting your life, don’t wait to explore options for managing it.

                Did you answer C or D for any of the questions? It could be a sign that you’re starting to feel the effects of chronic stress. Taking action now could prevent it from advancing.

                If most of your answers were C or D, there’s a good chance you have room to improve on stress management. And that’s okay! Everyone gets stressed. It’s just a matter of finding the right coping strategies for you.

                Which brings us to….

                4 Natural Ways To Manage Stress

                Now that you know where you stand on the stress-o-meter, you can pick and choose de-stressing methods that work for you. Try integrating one or more of these four tactics into your lifestyle.

                Talk It Out

                Talking to someone — whether they be a therapist or a loved one — can do wonders for stress levels.

                In a professional mental health setting, talk therapy is known as psychotherapy. And, reportedly, 75% of folks who try it see an improvement.(1)

                Exercise Often To Boost Your Mood

                When you move your body, it releases a flood of endorphins that can help you feel better quickly. Even short walks can lift your outlook.

                Pick a form of exercise you enjoy doing so you’re more likely to stick with it. We believe in you!

                Start A Meditation Practice

                The stress-reducing benefits of meditation are vast and have been widely studied. In addition to helping people dial down their stress levels, it can help with other concerns related to stress such as addition, sleep issues, and pain management.(2)

                Explore various meditation techniques and settle into the one(s) that suit you best.

                Try CBD For Stress Relief

                CBD oil is a natural extract of the hemp plant. It’s not psychoactive like THC, so it’s a more practical option for daily use. It’s also federally legal when it contains no more than 0.3% THC.

                Current evidence suggests CBD could have therapeutic applications for stress and anxiety disorders.(3) With all sorts of products on the market like CBD gummies and CBD oil drops, it’s easier than ever to tap into the benefits of CBD.

                New to CBD oil? Head up to the CBD 101 tab to learn everything you need to know to shop for CBD products with confidence.

                You Can Take Control Of Your Stress

                We can’t control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we respond. When stress starts taking over, pausing to assess your stress can put the big picture into perspective. The stress quiz in this article is a great starting point.

                Unmanaged stress can lead to long-term health challenges, which is why it’s important to have tools for managing your stress.

                Dealing with your stress can positively impact your life. With a plethora of coping methods — like talk therapy, exercise, meditation, and CBD oil — you can productively address your stress and broader physical and mental well-being.

                TRY CBD OIL TODAY!

                References

                1. (2020). Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/understanding
                2. Thorpe, M. (2020). 12 Science-Based Benefits of Meditation. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation
                3. Blessing, EM, et al. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics: the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1

                 



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