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Am I stressed?
Stress is a normal part of life. Healthy stress or 'eustress' motivates us. Unhealthy stress or 'distress' disables us. We usually refer to the latter type as 'stress'. Many factors have been found to contribute to extreme stress or BURNOUT.
It is important to be aware of your stressors and your reactions to them and to have an acceptance of strengths, weaknesses and limitations.
Go through these lists to identify any symptoms you might experience as a result of stress:
Physical:
 Aching neck/shoulder muscles
Allergy or asthma attacks
Anorexia
Cold hands or feet
Constipation
Dizziness
Diarrhoea
Dry mouth
Fatigue
Frequent colds
Frequent low grade infections
General aches and pains
Headaches
Heart palpitations
Heart pounding
High blood pressure
Indigestion
Loss of appetite
Lower back pain
Menstrual distress
Muscle tension
Nausea or vomiting
Over-eating
Shortness of breath
Sleep disturbances
Stomach distress
Sweating
Ulcers
Weakness
Psychological:
Confusion
Depression
Desire to run, escape
Feelings of uncertainty
Feeling that things frequently go wrong
Frequent, prolonged feelings of boredom
Helplessness
Lasting anxiety or tension
Lethargy
Loneliness
Negative attitudes
Nervousness
Nightmares
Overly suspicious
Poor concentration
Urge to cry
Worrying
Behavioural:
Cynicism
Explosive anger in response to minor irritations
Fault finding
Feeling unable to slow down or relax
Frequent minor accidents
Impulsive behaviour
Inability to focus attention
Inappropriate crying
Increased consumption of alcohol
Increased dependence on drugs
Isolation
Nervous laughter
Over/under-eating
Sexual problems
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