Checking In With Your Anxiety

Anxiety is more than just worry. Use this short quiz to assess whether anxiety is interfering with your life and well-being.

Anxiety is a natural response to stress, uncertainty, or perceived threats. But when feelings of worry, tension, or nervousness become constant or overwhelming, they may point to an anxiety disorder. One of the most common is generalized anxiety disorder, which is characterised by irritability, trouble relaxing, feeling nervous or on edge, and excessive worrying.[1]

It’s not uncommon for some men to downplay their symptoms or channel anxiety into anger, physical exercise, or compulsive behaviours, often without realizing anxiety is the root cause. This can delay getting help, which is important, as untreated anxiety is related to a wide range of other problems, like depression and substance use disorders, and a higher risk of physical health problems such as chronic pain, heart disease, and diabetes.[2]

NOT SURE IF IT’S ANXIETY?

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues for men, but it can show up in many different ways, which can make anxiety hard to recognize. Have you ever found yourself wondering:

  • Why do I always feel on edge or easily irritated?
  • Why do I struggle to focus or sleep?
  • Why do I feel so overwhelmed and tense?
  • Why do I constantly worry, even when I know things are fine?

If you have had such thoughts, you may be experiencing anxiety. 

ANXIETY ASSESSMENT

Take the free, anonymous anxiety quiz below to see if anxiety is affecting your life. It doesn’t provide a formal diagnosis, but tailored feedback will be provided based on your responses. You can also print your results to use as a conversation starter with a therapist or healthcare professional.

Come back and track your progress

This test can be used as a tool to help you track the impact that anxiety is having on you and monitor how it changes over time.

Disclaimer

This assessment is based on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), a psychometrically-validated general anxiety test that is used in clinical and research settings to screen for and assess the severity of generalized anxiety disorder. 

This assessment tool should not be used on its own for self-diagnosis. You may wish to save or print your results to share with your primary healthcare provider or a therapist as a way of starting a conversation.

Privacy

This survey is anonymous and does not collect directly identifying information. However, under UBC policies and BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), some demographic data may still be considered personal information.

Responses are securely stored on Canadian servers and used only for research and content development. For questions, contact [email protected].

Contact information for our email newsletter (if you choose to opt-in) and your responses are stored separately. 

See our terms, privacy, and conditions for more information.

References

  1. Torpy, J. M., Burke, A. E., & Golub, R. M. (2011). Generalized anxiety disorder. JAMA, 305(5), 522. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.305.5.522
  2. Newman, M. G., Llera, S. J., Erickson, T. M., Przeworski, A., & Castonguay, L. G. (2013). Worry and generalized anxiety disorder: a review and theoretical synthesis of evidence on nature, etiology, mechanisms, and treatment. Annual review of clinical psychology, 9, 275–297. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185544
  3. Gough, B., Robertson, S., & Luck, H. (2021). Engendered Expressions of Anxiety: Men’s Emotional Communications With Women and Other Men. Frontiers in Sociology, 6, 697356. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2021.697356