This quiz will reveal how stressed you really are

From money trouble to relationship anxiety, there’s so much nasty stuff in our day-to-day lives that can cause us unnecessary stress. And putting up with too much stress can even affect your physical and mental health; it can potentially worsen things like headaches and depression.

So we consulted with expert advice from Mind and Anxiety UK to identify some important markers of stress and put together this helpful quiz.

And while you’re here you could also have a go at our tests to find out how happy you are and how healthy your relationship is.

Good luck! 

To help stop stress from taking over your life, we spoke to experts at the Royal College of Psychiatrists to find out the best stress-busting tips.

Dr Sandeep Ranote from the RCP told ShortList: “When it comes to stress management, self-awareness is very important, but if you are concerned for yourself or someone you know, you should seek a clinical diagnosis. Good emotional health and well-being means recognising when you may need advice, information or specialist help, but there is a lot that you can do to maximise your self-care.”

These are Dr Ranote’s five Cs to help you handle stressful periods in your life:

1. Cuisine – It’s important to eat well and have a balanced diet
2. Chat – Try to talk in a cathartic way with trusted friends and family
3. Culture – Make time to participate in creative and cultural activities (art, theatre, music, reading)
4. Cool down – It’s also important to have relaxing time and good sleep
5. Circuits – Be active through sports, walking, play and movement

• If you feel like you need more urgent mental health help contact Mind or Samaritans. 
  

(Image: Ethan Haddox)