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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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….
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.
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)
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!
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.
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.
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.
References
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