Before you can check your stress signals, it is important to learn how stress impacts your mind and body.

Self-awareness means paying attention to what your brain, body, feelings, and behavior are doing. Understanding the signs that you are stressed can help you to take action and or ask a trusted person for further support.

The following questions can guide you through a self-check to know if and where you are experiencing signs of stress.

  • What’s happening in my brain?
  • What’s happening in my body?
  • What’s happening with my behavior?
  • What’s happening with my big feelings?

Review

Stress Information Sheet
To review, download or print click HERE.

Step 1: Click on the Stress Information Sheet to read more about stress and how it can affect your mind and body.

Stress Self Check Sheet
To review, download or print click HERE.

Step 2: Click on the Stress Self-Check Sheet. You will find a tool to help you become more aware of how stress may be affecting your mind and body.

Step 3: If you have checked numerous symptoms across the brain, body, feelings and behavior sections, you may want to talk to a trusted person to share how stress is affecting you at this time. Additional Tools: Below, you will find examples of “Apps” that you can download on your phone to help you monitor your stress signals on a more frequent basis. For example, if you are finding yourself more anxious and have many “worry thoughts”, you can download the “Worry Watch IOS App” or a similar App and follow the instructions found within the App.

Find an App to help you track your mood:
Daylio
Emoods App
Smiling Mind
iMood Journal
COVID Coach
T2 Mood Tracker
Worry Watch App
Reallife Change

Practice

Once you have read the stress handout and stress self-check, it will be important to do self-checks to monitor your stress regularly.

Reflection

Questions can help you evaluate your practices.

Examples:
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Did I check my stress signals today?

  • ​If so, did the tools work out for me?
  • If not, when will be the best time for me to check it?

Do I need to communicate to a trusted person the changes I am experiencing?

  • If so, who would the trusted person be?
  • If not, continue to conduct a regular stress-check to stay aware of how stress may affect your mind and body.

Do I need to communicate to a trusted person the changes I am experiencing?