MSU Extension Managing Farm Stress

This activity sheet has a list of items detailing various impacts from stress. You can circle the items that apply to you in each section to better understand how stress is affecting you. This resource comes from the MSU Extension program RELAX: Alternatives to Anger.

How stress affects your body

From the list below, circle any of the physical symptoms that you frequently have when you are stressed.

• Heart races
• High blood pressure
• sweaty palms
• Face feels hot
• Tightness of chest
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Neck feels sore
• Legs feel shaky Upset stomach
• No appetite
• Feel like your in a fog
• Increased appetite
• Tapping fingers
• Muscle cramps
• Backache
• Grind teeth
• Headache

How stress affects your thoughts or feelings

From the list below, circle any of the thoughts or feelings you frequently have when you are stressed.

• Easily angered
• Feeling depressed
• Lower sex drive
• Exhausted
• Can't concentrate
• Nervous
• Trouble making decisions
• Irritable
• Cynical
• Aggressive
• Crying 
• Restlessness
• Feeling bored
• Inability to sleep

How stress affects what you do

From the list below, circle any of the things you may do when you are stressed.

• Undereating
• Overeating
• Arguing
• Stop doing things I like to do
• Increase smoking
• Taking drugs
• Drinking
• Sleeping to escape
• Withdraw from people
• Breaking things