What Is Your 2005 Stress Scale

Stress can be productive or destructive, depending on what type of stress it is, and how much stress you may be dealing with at any given time.

Evaluate the following stressors according to what you have experienced in the past year. If the event happened in 2005, put a mark aside of the event and later on, add all the numbers together:

100 ________DEATH OF A SPOUSE
73_________DIVORCE
65_________MARITAL SEPARATION FROM SIGNIFICANT OTHER
63_________DETENTION IN JAIL OR OTHER INSTITUTE
63_________DEATH OF A CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER
53_________MAJOR PERSONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS
50_________MARRIAGE
47_________BEING FIRED AT WORK
45_________MARITAL RECONCILIATION WITH MATE
45_________RETIREMENT FROM WORK
44_________MAJOR CHANGE IN THE HEALTH OR BEHAVIOR OF A FAMILY MEMBER
40_________PREGNANCY
39_________SEXUAL DIFFICULTIES
39_________GAINING A NEW FAMILY MEMBER (BIRTH, ADOPTION OR OLDSTER MOVING BACK IN)
38_________MAJOR CHANGE IN FINANCIAL STATE (WORSE OFF OR BETTER OFF)
37_________DEATH OF A CLOSE FRIEND
36_________CHANGING TO A DIFFERENT LINE OF WORK
35_________MAJOR CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF ARGUMENTS WITH SPOUSE (EITHER A LOT MORE OR LESS THAN USUAL REGARDING CHILDREARING, PERSONAL HABITS, ETC.)
31_________TAKING ON A MORTGAGE, GREATER THAN $10,000 (PURCHASE OF HOME, BUSINESS, ETC.)
30_________FORECLOSURE ON A MORTGAGE OR LOAN
29_________MAJOR CHANGES IN RESPONSIBILITIES AT WORK (PROMOTION, DEMOTION, LATERAL TRANSFER)
29_________SON OR DAUGHTER LEAVING HOME (MARRIAGE, ATTENDING COLLEGE, ETC.)
29_________IN-LAW TROUBLES
28_________OUTSTANDING PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT
26_________WIFE BEGINNING OR CEASING WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME, BEGINNING OR CEASING FORMAL SCHOOL
25_________MAJOR CHANGE IN LIVING CONDITIONS (BUILDING A NEW HOME, REMODELING, DETERIORATION OF HOME OR NEIGHBORHOOD)
24_________REVISION OF PERSONAL HABITS (DRESS, MANNERS, ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.)
23_________TROUBLES AT WORK (BOSS OR CO-WORKERS)
20_________MAJOR CHANGES IN WORKING HOURS OR CONDITIONS 20_________CHANGE IN RESIDENCE
19_________CHANGING TO A NEW SCHOOL
19_________MAJOR CHANGE IN USUAL TYPE AND/OR AMOUNT OF RECREATION
19_________MAJOR CHANGE IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES (LOT MORE OR A LOT LESS THAN USUAL)
18_________MAJOR CHANGE OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES (CLUBS, DANCES, MOVIES, VISITORS, ETC.)
17_________TAKING ON A MORTAGE OR LOAN LESS THAN $10,000 (PURCHASING A CAR, TV, FREEZER, ETC.)
16_________MAJOR CHANGES IN SLEEPING HABITS (LOT MORE OR LOT LESS, OR CHANGE IN PART OF DAY WHEN ASLEEP)
15_________MAJOR CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS (LOT MORE OR LESS THAN USUAL)
15_________MAJOR CHANGES IN EATING HABITS (LOT MORE OR A LOT LESS FOOD INTAKE, OR VERY DIFFERENT MEAL HOURS OR SURROUNDINGS)
13_________VACATIONS
12_________CHRISTMAS
11_________MINOR VIOLATION OF THE LAW (TAFFIC TICKETS, DISTURBING THE PEACE)

__________TOTAL SCORE

Stress and Illness

The key variable between stress and possible illness is how effectively you are able to handle stressful experiences and your ability to exercise and decrease you internal stressors.

Statistically, 40% to 50% of people who score above 300 may become ill within the year, due to their immune system shutting down. Only 5% to 10 % of people who score below 200 experience such problems or illness.

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