How to Calculate Your Stress Level

Stress can cause unhappiness as well as physical health problems, and we encounter it during many different phases of our lives. Learning to deal with stress can prevent illness and other negative repercussions. But in order to manage it, you should first learn how to calculate exactly what level of stress you are under, or demonstrate to yourself your need to deal with stress, if you are unsure.

Instructions

• 1

  Look for the warning signs of short-term or instantaneous stress. Watch for an increased heart rate, cold limbs and sweating, tensing of the muscles, a nervous stomach or the need to use the restroom frequently, dry mouth or even difficulty breathing. Note your response to short-term stress--whether you find yourself angry and irritated, reluctant to face difficult situations, withdrawn or daunted.

• 2

  Check to see if you have the warning signs of long-term stress, which can, over time, cause habitual signs and problems. Ask yourself if you have seen changes in your eating and sleeping patterns, picked up a bad habit like nail biting, fidgeting or talking too much, been ill more frequently or had a decreased libido. Know that all of these are signs of long-term stress and anxiety. Understand that stress over long periods can cause serious health problems. Be on the lookout for signs of paranoia, neglect of social relationships or personal appearance, mood changes or depression, and many other unfortunate consequences.

• 3

  Take a stress text to confirm your results. Confirm that you are experiencing stress, long-term or short-term, by following the links in the References section below. Identify the symptoms you are experiencing. Note that if you feel you exhibit short-term stress, you are on the lower end of stress and this may be perfectly normal. Take caution if you experience the symptoms of long-term stress, and consider speaking to your doctor or mental health care professional to seek advice on how to relax your mind and cope with your stressful feelings.