Are You Suffering From Stress Build-Up?

 

Have you experienced any of these symptoms in the last month?
Use the scale to indicate how severe it was for you.

 

	Degree of Discomfort
	LOW   →   HIGH
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1. Tight muscles, muscular arches
2. Nervous tics
3. Stuttering, shaky/strained voice
4. Frowning, wrinkled forehead
5. Tension headaches
6. Grinding/clenching teeth
7. Jaw pain
8. Trembling or shaking
9. Pacing, finger/foot tapping
10. Back pain
11. Change in appetite
12. Nauseau
13. Gas pains/cramping
14. Acid stomach/heartburn
15. Urinary difficulties
16. Constipation
17. Diarrhoea
18. Frigidity/impotence
19. Dry mouth/throat
20. Difficulty swallowing
21. High blood pressure
22. Dizziness
23. Palpitations
24. Sweaty palms, increased perspiration
25. Cold hands/feet
26. Rapid heartbeat
27. Sudden bursts of energy
28. Migraines
29. Chest pains
30. Shortness of breath
31. Feeling that things are out of control
32. Anxiety/panic
33. Frustration
34. Anger/irritation
35. Feeling desperate/hopeless
36. Feeling trapped/helpless
37. Feeling depressed
38. Feeling guilty
39. Feeling self-conscious
40. Feeling restless
41. Poor memory
42. Excessive daydreaming
43. Indecisiveness
44. Mental confusion
45. Racing thoughts
46. Belief that all turns out for the worst
47. Difficulty falling asleep
48. Poor judgement
49. Trouble concentrating
50. Preoccupation
51. Arthritic joint pain
52. Menstrual difficulties
53. Unusual body temperature changes
54. Diabetes
55. Skin rashes/pimples
56. Fatigue
57. Infertility
58. Water retention
59. Excessive thirst
60. Changes in skin colour
61. Frequent colds
62. Frequent bouts of flu
63. Frequent bouts of low-grade infection
64. Allergies
65. Hives
66. Feeling generally well
67. Mouth sores
68. Strep throat
69. Mononucleosis
70. Herpes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	LOW   →   HIGH
	Degree of Discomfort

 

The presence of mild symptoms are usually the result of unavoidable daily stresses and are normal features of modern living. When stress builds over time, however, multiple problems with higher degrees of discomfort begin to appear. Higher scores should be recognised as serious warnings of stress overload.