Believe it or not - You need stress in your life

STRESS ADDS FLAVOR, challenge, and opportunity to your life.

YOU ARE STRETCHING yourself and learning new things.

 But it is very important to find the optimal level of stress.

How do you know if you are experiencing excess stress?

To help determine how much stress you experience on a daily basis, answer the following questions.

Yes	No
		1.	Are you easily startled or irritated?
		2.	Are you increasingly forgetful?
		3.	Do you have trouble falling or staying asleep?
		4.	Do you continually worry about events in your future?
		5.	Do you feel as if you are constantly under pressure to produce?
		6.	Do you frequently use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs to help you relax?
		7.	Do you often feel as if you have less energy than you need to finish the day?
		8.	Do you have recurrent stomachaches or headaches?
		9.	Is it difficult for you to find satisfaction in simple life pleasures?
		10.	Are you often disappointed in yourself and others?
		11.	Are you overly concerned with being liked or accepted by others?
		12.	Have you lost interest in intimacy or sex?
		13.	Are you concerned that you do not have enough money?

Experiencing some of the stress-related symptoms or answering "yes" to a few questions is normal. However, if you experience a large number of stress symptoms or you answered "yes" to a majority of the questions, you are likely experiencing a high level of stress.

(Source: http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/hhp/wellness/008.htm)

 

 

Continue to Page 2 to learn about the signs and symptoms of stress.

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