Stress Style Inventory

Imagine yourself in a stressful situation. When you’re feeling anxious, what do you typically experience? Note all that apply:

o    My heart beats faster.

o    I find it difficult to concentrate because of distracting thoughts

o    I worry too much about things that don’t really matter.

o    I feel jittery.

o    I get diarrhea.

o    I imagine terrifying scenes.

o    I can’t keep anxiety-provoking pictures and images out of my mind.

o    My stomach gets tense.

o    I pace up and down nervously.

o    I’m bothered by unimportant thoughts running through my mind.

o    I become immobilized.

o    I feel I’m losing out on things because I can’t make decisions fast enough.

o    I perspire.

o    I can’t stop thinking worrisome thoughts.

There are three basic ways of reacting to stress – primarily physical, mainly mental, or a mix of both. Physical stress types feel tension in the body – jitters, butterflies, the sweats. Mental types experience stress in the mind – worries and preoccupying thoughts. Mixed types react with both responses in about equal measure.

Give yourself a MIND point if you answered “yes” to any of the questions:

   2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14

Give yourself a BODY point if you answered “yes” to any of the questions:

   1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13

If you have more MIND than body points, consider yourself a mental stress type. If you have more BODY points, consider yourself a physical stress type. Do you have about the same number of each? You’re a mixed reactor. Read further for relaxation strategies.

Stress Relaxer Strategies

Source for Stress Style Inventory and Relaxers: Goleman, D. (1986). What’s your stress style? American Health

(April 1986). 41-45