Life Events Stress Test

A Bender Byte Moment

By Ron Bender © 2010

How is your stress level? What changes have you gone through in the last year that may be affecting your health and well-being?

The Truth is every one of us can have an overload or burnout. The first step to help is to assess how YOU are doing. Use this “Life Events Stress Test” to help you understand your if you may be in the danger spot

In the past 12 months, which of the following 43 major life events have taken place in your life? Place a check by each life event that you’ve experienced and then add up the points and total at the bottom. Then you can check how vulnerable you are to stress-related illness.

_____ 100 Death of Spouse
_____ 73 Divorce
_____ 65 Marital Separation or from relationship partner
_____ 63 Jail Term
_____ 63 Death of close family member
_____ 53 Personal injury or illness
_____ 50 Marriage
_____ 47 Fired from work
_____ 45 Marital reconciliation
_____ 45 Retirement
_____ 44 Change in family member’s health
_____ 40 Pregnancy
_____ 39 Sex difficulties
_____ 39 Addition to family
_____ 39 Business readjustment
_____ 38 Change in financial status
_____ 37 Death of close friend
_____ 36 Change to a different line of work
_____ 35 Change in number of marital arguments
_____ 31 Mortgage or loan over $30,000
_____ 30 Foreclosure of mortgage or loan
_____ 29 Change in work responsibilities
_____ 29 Trouble with in-laws
_____ 28 Outstanding personal achievement
_____ 26 Spouse begins or stops work
_____ 26 Starting or finishing school
_____ 25 Change in living conditions
_____ 24 Revision of personal habits
_____ 23 Trouble with boss
_____ 20 Change in work hours, conditions
_____ 20 Change in residence
_____ 20 Change in schools
_____ 19 Change in recreational habits
_____ 19 Change in church activities
_____ 18 Change in social activities
_____ 17 Mortgage or loan under $20,000
_____ 16 Change in sleeping habits
_____ 15 Change in number of family gatherings
_____ 15 Change in eating habits
_____ 13 Vacation
_____ 12 Christmas season
_____ 11 Minor violations of the law

______ Your Total Life Stress Score

Stress Related Vulnerability to Illness

0-149: Low susceptibility to stress-related illness

150-299: Medium susceptibility to stress-related illness

300 and over: High susceptibility to stress-related illness

Any change, even a positive one, is a stress that adds pressure on you. People who experience high levels of stress are vulnerable to stress related illness, especially if they internalize stress as anxiety or have difficulty coping with their stress. Stress related health problems range from mild problems like frequent tension headaches, acid indigestion, loss of sleep to very serious illnesses like ulcers, hypertension, migraines, and cancer.

Being overstressed can cause other problems too like anxiety disorders, depression, burn out, and conflicts in relationship.

See Overcoming Problems for help with anxiety, depression, relational conflict, and setting boundaries.

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Thank you!

Ron

Ronald Bender- President/CEO Bender Consulting.~http://www.benderbytes.net/bender_consult