Do you ever find yourself moving from one event to the next, never really having time to reflect on what you’ve just been through, whether good or bad? Sometimes we’re moving so quickly that we don’t realize how much stress we’re carrying around in our bodies. In the Women’s Health Encyclopaedia they’ve developed a stress test where you assign points to events that have happened in your life in the last year.
Take the test, add up the points and see where your stress level is at. Check off the vents that have happened to you in the past 12 months. Each successive event will add to your stress level and risk of illness. Once you have your total, check the scoring below to determine whether your stress is manageable or if you should seek some help to cope with the stressors in your life—and avoid future health problems.
Rank Event Points
1. Death of a spouse or partner…….100
2. Divorce………………………………….73
3. Marital Separation…………………..65
4. Prison Term……………………………63
5. Death of a family member…………63
6. Personal Injury………………………53
7. Marriage 50 8. Loss of job………..47
9. Marital Reconciliation……………..45
10. Retirement…………………………..45
11. Change in health of family
member……………………………….44
12. Pregnancy …………………………..40
13. Sexual Problems……………………39
14. Gain new family member………..39
15. Changes at work or
in business…………………………..39
16. Change in financial
circumstances ……………………..39
17. Death of a close friend …………..37
18. Change to new line of work……..36
19. Change in frequency of
arguments with spouse
or partner…………………………..35
20. Having a large mortgage……….33
21. Child leaves home………………..29
22. Trouble with in-laws…………….29
23. Outstanding personal
achievement……………………….28
24. Spouse or partner begins
or ends work……………………….26
25. Begin or finish school…………..26
26. Change in living conditions…..25
27. Change in personal habits…….24
28. Trouble with employer………..23
29. Change in working hours
or conditions…………………….20
30. Moving house……………………20
31. Moving school……………………20
32. Change in recreation…………..19
33. Change in religious activity….19
34. Change in social activity……..18
35. Having a small mortgage…….17
36. Change in sleeping habits…….16
37. Change in number of
family Get-togethers………….15
38. Change in eating habits……….15
39. Going on holiday……………….13
40. Christmas/holiday
season…………………………….12
41. Minor law violation……………11
0 to 100 points: Low stress rarely causes problems. At 100 points, there is a small risk of illness occurring over the next two years.
100-200 points: Moderate stress carries a 10 to 35 percent increase to the risk of an illness occurring over the next two years.
200-300 points: High stress carries a 35 to 50 percent increase to the risk an illness will develop over the next two years.
300-plus points: With extremely high stress, there is an 80 to 90 percent change of illness over the next two years.
