Comprehend Online Screening

Stress Checklist

Stress is a natural part of everyday life. Left unchecked, however, stress can cause physical, emotional, and behavioral disorders that can affect your health, vitality, peace-of-mind, and personal and professional relationships.

Everyone handles stress differently, some better than others. If you think you have too much stress in your life, it may be helpful to talk with a doctor, clergy member, or other caring professional. They may suggest that you consult with a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or other qualified counselor because reactions to stress can be a factor in depression, anxiety, and other mental and emotional disorders.

Here is a checklist of negative reactions to stress and tension:

Do minor problems and disappointments upset you excessively?
Do the small pleasures of life fail to satisfy you?
Are you unable to stop worrying?
Do you feel inadequate or suffer from self-doubt?
Are you constantly tired?
Do you experience flashes of anger over minor problems?
Have you noticed a change in sleeping or eating patterns?
Do you suffer from chronic pain, headaches, or back aches?

If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, consider the following suggestions for reducing or controlling stress:

Be realistic. If you feel overwhelmed by some activities, learn to say NO!
Shed the "superman/woman" urge. No one is perfect, so don’t expect perfection from yourself or others.
Meditate for ten to twenty minutes.
Visualize how you can manage a stressful situation more successfully
Take one thing at a time. Prioritize your tasks and tackle each one separately.
Find a hobby that will give you a break from your worries.
Live a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition, adequate rest, regular exercise, limited caffeine and alcohol, and balanced work and play
Share your feelings with family and friends. Don’t try to cope alone.
Give in occasionally. Be flexible.
Go easy with criticism. You may be expecting too much.

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Anxiety Disorder Checklist

Most people experience feelings of anxiety before an important event such as a big exam, business presentation or first date. Anxiety disorders, however, are illnesses that cause people to feel frightened, distressed and uneasy for no apparent reason. If the excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occur more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities and are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months; children don't need to meet as many criteria) you may be suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
being easily fatigued
difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
irritability
muscle tension
sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)

The Other Kinds of Anxiety Disorders?

Panic Disorder-Characterized by panic attacks, sudden feelings of terror that strike repeatedly and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder-Repeated, intrusive and unwanted thoughts or rituals that seem impossible to control.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-Persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing a traumatic event such as war, rape, child abuse, natural disasters, or being taken hostage. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression, and feeling angry, irritable, distracted and being easily startled are common.

Social Phobia-Extreme, disabling and irrational fear of something that really poses little or no actual danger; the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause people to limit their lives.