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How much stress are you really under?

Remember different people are stressed by different things. One person may need to bungee jump from an airplane, while another person can get the same adrenaline rush by just leaving the house.

At School:

Do you get along with your professors and understand the requirements of their course? Are you able to keep up with the work demand? Do you enjoy coming to school? Do you feel you are making progress toward your goals?

At Home:

Is your living situation hectic or calm? Do you get along with your roommate(s)? Do you feel supported by them? Do you have a space that is yours? Are you frequently bothered by noise or environmental pollutants?

In Relationships:

Are the most important relationships in your life positive or negative? Do you have supportive friends you can confide in? Are people constantly looking to you to provide help with their problems? Do you have a healthy relationship with your parents?

Your Finances:

Are you constantly worrying about your financial situation? Do you have to decide between rent and food? Are you worried that you won't be able to afford to complete your education? Are you trying to keep up with wealthier friends?

What's Your Downtime? 

How you spend your "alone time" affects how you handle stress. Do you do things that can relieve stress and energize your body such as reading, journaling, enjoying music, exercising and meditating? Or are your coping mechanisms more destructive like overeating, abusing drugs or alcohol, criticizing yourself, or being overly aggressive? 

How About Your Health?

Are you dealing with chronic illness or injury? Do you get even close to adequate sleep or eat a balanced diet? Do you engage in negative self-talk, catastrophizing or perfectionism? Do you do any regular exercise or spend time outside? 

How Do You Know When You Are Too Stressed?

Symptoms of stress are many and varied. Some people will not feel mentally or emotionally stressed, but will have many physical symptoms. It can depend on whether the stresses are short-term or experienced over an extended time period.