by J...
De-Stress
Ten months into 2020, I decided to evaluate my stress level. It may seem like a needless exercise because COVID alone has clearly caused a level of stress for which none of us was prepared. But, I know that this year has thrown me other curve balls that cumulatively are working against me in a COVID world.
According to my readings, the top five most stressful life events are:
- Death of a loved one
- Divorce
- Moving
- Major illness or injury
- Job loss
Well, I am still happily married, but the other four bullets apply to me. Scoring an 80% pushed me into my next evaluation.
In 1967, two psychiatrists, Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe, developed the Life Change Index Scale to measure stress. It lists 43 life events in order of the stress levels they cause. I decided to run my life through their stress test recognizing that a few of the categories seem to be a bit dated. If you want to take and score this test, I have included the directions at the end of my “report card.”
Life Change Index Scale (The Stress Test)*
| Event | Impact Score | My Score |
| Death of spouse | 100 | |
| Divorce | 73 | |
| Marital Separation | 65 | |
| Jail Term | 63 | |
| Death of close family member | 63 | 63 |
| Personal injury or illness | 53 | 106 |
| Marriage | 50 | |
| Fired at work | 47 | |
| Marital reconciliation | 45 | |
| Retirement | 45 | 45 |
| Change in health of family member | 44 | |
| Pregnancy | 40 | |
| Sex difficulties | 39 | |
| Gain of a new family member | 39 | |
| Business readjustment | 39 | |
| Change in financial state | 38 | 38 |
| Death of a close friend | 37 | |
| Change to a different line of work | 36 | |
| Change in number of arguments with spouse | 35 | |
| Mortgage over $20,000 | 31 | |
| Foreclosure of mortgage or loan | 30 | |
| Change in responsibilities at work | 29 | |
| Son or daughter leaving home | 29 | |
| Trouble with in laws | 29 | |
| Outstanding personal achievement | 28 | |
| Spouse begins or stop work | 26 | |
| Begin or end school | 26 | |
| Change in living conditions | 25 | 25 |
| Revisions of personal habits | 24 | 24 |
| Trouble with boss | 23 | |
| Change in work hours or conditions | 20 | |
| Change in residence | 20 | 20 |
| Change in schools | 20 | |
| Change in recreations | 19 | |
| Change in church activities | 19 | |
| Change in social activities | 19 | 19 |
| Mortgage or loan less than $20,000 | 17 | |
| Change in sleeping habits | 16 | |
| Change in number of family get-togethers | 15 | 15 |
| Change in eating habits | 15 | |
| Vacation | 13 | 13 |
| Christmas approaching | 12 | |
| Minor violation of the law | 11 | |
| Total | 368 |
Life Change Units Likelihood of Illness in Near Future
300+ About 80%
150-299 About 50%
Less than 150 About 30%
With another 80% score under my belt, I think my next project is figuring out ways to lower that score. Because I won’t be retiring and have no plans to move again, 2021 should start out in a much healthier bracket.
*Taking the Life Change Index: If an event mentioned has occurred in the past year, or is expected in the near future, you copy the number in the score column. If the event has occurred or is expected to occur more than once, you multiply this number by the frequency of the event.