Stress is your body’s response to the day-to-day challenges of life. A little stress can be healthy—it keeps your body and mind alert and productive. However, too much stress can cause harmful physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms.
For those who have been stressed for a long time, the symptoms may start to feel ordinary. The line between what’s normal and what’s stress begins to blur.
The Symptoms of Stress worksheet helps clients gain insight into this often-discussed but rarely explored experience. The handout defines stress, lists common physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms, and outlines the health consequences of chronic stress.
Suggested uses:
- Provide basic stress education
- Ask clients to identify and circle their stress symptoms
- Talk about the costs of stress to motivate positive change
