TAKE THE CHRONIC STRESS TEST BELOW
Determine which stressful events indicated below have occurred in your life over the past two years and add up your total stress score. For example, if you got married, changed to a different line of work, changed residence, and took two vacations, your total stress score would be 50+36+20+13+13=132.
If your total stress score is under 150, you are less likely to be suffering the effects of cumulative stress. If it is between 150 and 300, you may be suffering from chronic stress. If your score is over 300, it is likely you are experiencing some detrimental effects physically and emotionally. Please note the degree to which any particular event is stressful to you will depend on how you perceive it.
SCORE - STRESSFUL EVENT
100 - Death of spouse
73 - Divorce
65 - Marital separation
63 - Jail term
63 - Death of close family member
53 - Personal injury or illness
50 - Marriage
47 - Being fired from work
45 - Marital problems
45 - Retirement
44 - Change in health of family member
40 - Pregnancy
39 - Sexual difficulties
39 - Gain of new family member
39 - Business readjustment
38 - Change in finances
37 - Death of close friend
36 - Change to different line of work
35 - Change in number of arguments with spouse
31 - Mortgage or loan for major purchase (such as a home)
30 - Foreclosure of mortgage or loan
29 - Change in responsibilities at work
29 - Son or daughter leaving home
29 - Trouble with in-laws
28 - Outstanding personal achievement
26 - Spouse begins or stops work
26 - Beginning or finishing school
25 - Change in living conditions
24 - Revision of personal habits
23 - Trouble with boss
20 - Change in work hours or conditions
20 - Change in residence
20 - Change in school
19 - Change in recreation
19 - Change in church activities
18 - Change in social activities
17 - Mortgage or loan for lesser purchase (such as a car or computer)
16 - Change in sleeping habits
15 - Change in number of family get-togethers
15 - Change in eating habits
13 - Vacation
12 - Christmas
11 - Minor violations of the law
WHAT IS CUMULATIVE STRESS?
When stress persists without letup over a period of time, such as several months or years, it tends to accumulate. This sort of stress is more enduring than normal, temporary stresses such as moving, Christmas season, or a short-term financial setback. Unfortunately, what really wears us down are lower levels of stress that occur constantly and that most of us accept as inevitable.
Cumulative stress can arise from unresolved psychological conflicts lasting over many years. Or it can be due to difficulties in one area of your life, such as problems with your marriage or physical health that persist over a long period of time. Finally, it may be due to a large number of changes in the course of your life that require an adjustment and reordering of your priorities, such as changing jobs, a marriage or leaving an intimate relationship, going off to college, moving to a new location, having a baby or so on.
While one ore two events every year is a common and manageable experience, a series of many of them stretching over one or two years time can lead to a state of chronic stress and exhaustion. |