Today I would like you to do a quick test connected with your stress level.
Not so long ago during my psychology classes I had a chance to analyse my stress using Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe’s scale. They were a psychiatrists who invented Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) in 1967. Psychiatrists surveyed more than 5,000 medical patients and asked them if during previous 2 years they had any of 43 experiences mentioned in the scale.
Okay. What do we need to know before the test?
Scientists created some „weight” for every kind of stress mentioned in the scale. The scale for every experience is limited from 0 to 100. You have to analyse the events and add points connected with them if you had this kind of experience in the previous year.
1.Death of spouse (100)
2.Divorce (73)
3.Marital separation (65)
4.Jail term (63)
5.Death of close family member (63)
6.Personal injury or illness (53)
7.Marriage (50)
8.Fired at work (47)
9.Marital reconciliation (45)
10.Retirement (45)
11.Change in health of family member (44)
12.Pregnancy (40)
13.Sex difiiculties (39)
14.Gain of new family member (39)
15.Business readjustment (39)
16.Change in financial state (38)
17.Death of close friend (37)
18.Change to a different line of work (36)
19.Change in number of arguments with spouse (35)
20.A large mortgage or loan (31)
21.Foreclosure of mortgage or loan (30)
22.Change in responsibilities at work (29)
23.Son or daughter leaving home (29)
24. Trouble with in-laws (29)
25. Outstanding personal achievement (28)
26. Spouse begins or stops work (26)
27. Begin or end school/college (26)
28. Change in living conditions (25)
29. Revision of personal habits (24)
30. Trouble with boss (23)
31.Change in work hours or conditions (20)
32.Change in residence (20)
33.Change in school/college (20)
34.Change in recreation (19)
35.Change in church activities (19)
36.Change in social activities (18)
37.A moderate loan or mortgage (17)
38.Change in sleeping habits (16)
39.Change in number of family get-togethers (15)
40.Change in eating habits (15)
41.Vacation (13)
42.Christmas (12)
43.Minor violations of the law (11)
Quick summary:
-150-199 points gives you 37% possibility of illness in the next 2 years.
-200-299 points gives you 51% possibility of illness in the next 2 years.
-over 300 points- 79% possibility of illness in the next 2 years.
What kind of illness is it? Almost everything connected with stress. For example heart attack, back pain, headaches (migraines), cancers, hypertension and many others.
Please, don’t panic if your score is high. It’s just a good moment to start care for health, relax more and avoid unnecessary stress. I’m a really stressed person but I’m doing my best to learn how to manage with this. I know it’s tough but it’s not impossible! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you too ;)
My sources:"The Social Readjustment Rating Scale", Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe, Journal of Psychosomatic Research.