Stress Test For Students
I have Attached Stress Test For Students
Stress Test for students
www.utexas.edu/student/utlc
Do you worry about the future?
Do you sometimes have trouble falling asleep?
Do you often reach for a cigarette, a drink, or a tranquilizer in order to reduce
Do you become irritated over basically insignificant matters?
Do you have less energy than you seem to need or would like to have?
Do you have too many things to do and not enough time to do them?
Do you have headaches or stomach problems?
Do you feel pressure to accomplish or to get things done?
Are you very concerned about being either well-liked or successful?
_____10. Do you perform well enough in life to satisfy yourself?
_____11. Do you get satisfaction from the small joys or simple pleasures of life?
_____12. Are you able to really relax and have fun?
Scoring: 1 point for a yes answer to 1-9 or no answer to 10-12. A score of 4 or more
suggests that you may be under significant stress.
________________________________________________________________________
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT STRESS
We always know when we are under stress. Often people become so accustomed
to stress that they become unaware of it. Many of us suffer the debilitating effects of
stress even though we don’t feel tense. But stress can change the way you treat others,
or damage your body even in the absence of feelings of frustration or anxiety.
Stress is something that affects only those who have high-pressure lives.
Many ordinary individuals experience the constant stress of worry, leading unfulfilled
lives, or of not being who they would like to be.
The only way to lower stress is to change your surroundings or to take
medication. Changing your outlook on life is the most reliable and effective way of
reducing stress. Stress comes from the way we perceive the world, not from the way
Stress is caused by events that happen to us. To paraphrase the Stoic philosopher
Epictetus, it is not events in themselves that cause our distress, but rather the views we
Emotions have a will of their own and cannot be controlled. We can change our
feelings by first changing our behavior or by changing our thinking. For example,
getting some work done can keep us from worrying about it. Creating a new
understanding of a situation can make it less threatening or stressful.
Stress Test
TIPS FOR REDUCING STRESS
Learn to plan. Disorganization can breed stress. Having too many projects going on
simultaneously often leads to confusion, forgetfulness, and the sense that uncompleted
projects are hanging over your head. When possible, take on projects one at a time and
Recognize and accept limits. Most of us set unreasonable and perfectionist goals for
ourselves. But in reality, we can never be perfect, so we often have a sense of failure or
inadequacy no matter how well we perform. Set achievable goals for yourself.
Learn to play. You need to escape from the pressures of life occasionally and have fun.
Find pastimes that are absorbing and enjoyable no matter your level of ability.
Focus on the positive. Avoid criticizing others. Learn to praise the things you like in
others. Focus upon the good qualities those around you possess. Be sure to give
yourself credit and appreciate your own good qualities as well.
Learn to tolerate and forgive. Intolerance of others leads to frustration and anger.
Attempting to really understand the way other people feel can make you more accepting
of them. Accept and forgive yourself also.
Avoid unnecessary competition. There are plenty competitive situations in life that
we can’t avoid. Being too concerned with winning in too many areas of life can create
excessive tension and anxiety, and make us unnecessarily aggressive.
Get regular physical exercise. Check with your physician before beginning any
exercise program. You will be more likely to stay with an exercise program if you
choose one that you really enjoy rather than one that feels like pure hard work and
Learn a systematic, drug-free method of relaxing. Meditation, yoga, or any of a
variety of relaxation techniques can be learned from various accredited teachers and
Talk out your troubles. Find a friend, member of the clergy, faculty member,
counselor, or psychotherapist you can be open with. Expressing your “bottled up”
anxieties to a sympathetic ear can be incredibly helpful.
Change your thinking. How we feel emotionally often depends on our outlook or
philosophy of life, but changing your beliefs is challenging process. There is little
practical wisdom in the modern world to guide us through our lives. No one has all the
answers, but some answers are available. Talk to mentors, teachers, and licensed