We live in a world that continuously thrusts us into unforeseen and sudden situations which trigger our body’s flight or flight response, commonly known as stress. This response floods our bodies with adrenaline hormone in order to help us cope with the situation. But even after this supposed sudden moment has passed, our bodies can continue to be in a state of physical and mental unrest.
For our ancestors, this response meant better protection from predators. Now, even though we don’t necessarily have to fight a man-eating predator every day in our life, we have to deal with the same fight or flight response or stress. Long-term and constant stress has been found to increase the risk of physical ailments like type 2 diabetes or heart problems and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
This is why it is essential to keep track of your stress levels. Using a stress level test, you can easily self-access how stressed you are. Let us dive deeper into what a stress level test is and how you can take one.
What is a stress level test?
A stress level test allows you to determine the extent of your stress efficiently. Your answers and eventual score can clearly indicate how much stress affects your body physically and mentally. It can be used as a useful parameter to identify and explain the symptoms of stress that you are currently experiencing.
The questions in this test are related to real-life experiences common among those facing varying stress levels. This stress can stem from any event that feels out-of-control, nerve-wracking, or frustrating.
However, this is not a clinical diagnostic test. Based on your answers, you will get a picture of how stressed out you currently are. But the results will not be able to tell you if your health is at risk due to the stress you are facing currently. If you are concerned about the levels of your stress or the symptoms you are facing, consult a mental health professional for proper help.
Read more: 10 Best Anxiety Self-Help Books For Better Mental Health.
The Stress Level Test Questions
This short questionnaire is for people wanting to get an insight into how stressed you are.
At each level, indicate how much you agree or disagree with the statement given.
Each response you choose carries a certain number of points. The points distribution is:
- A lot – 5 points
- Very Often- 4 points
- Sometimes- 3 points
- Rarely- 2 points
- Never- 1 point.
In order to get the best results, answer all the questions honestly, and keep track of your responses.
1. Do you have trouble staying focused in the present moment?
- A lot
- Very Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
2. How often did you feel overwhelmed in the past week?
- A lot
- Very Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
3. Do you find it difficult to fall asleep at night?
- A lot
- Very Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
4. Do you feel like the odds are stacked against you?
- A lot
- Very Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
5. Do you turn toward unhealthy eating habits like drinking, junk foods, and others when you feel overwhelmed?
- A lot
- Very Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
6. Do you experience headaches or muscle tension frequently?
- A lot
- Very Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
7. Do you feel like you are withdrawing or isolating yourself from social interactions?
- A lot
- Very Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
8. Do you feel angry or irritated about small, trivial issues?
- A lot
- Very Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
Results
Now that you have completed the test, it is time for the results.
Calculate the total number of points according to your responses. The scoring of the test is divided as follows:
- 0-16 – Stress is unlikely
- 16-24 – Stress is possible
- 24-31– Stress is likely
- 31-40 – You are definitely stressed.
Evaluate your score according to the given criteria, and you can easily check on the stress scale how stressed you are.
Read more: Anxiety Mood Tracker
Conclusion:
We hope this stress level test has helped you gain some insight into how stressed you are. If you have been dealing with stress for a long time and it has started affecting your daily life, it is time for professional help. Professional help is now more accessible than ever with the advent of online therapy. Read about the top online therapy platforms here.
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