In the annals of stress management studies is a particular test called the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Scale. It assigns "points" to major and minor life stressors a person may have experienced over the past year, and then has you total up the points at the end of the test to get a "total score." That total score can be used to predict the likelihood of illness, whether mild or severe, because chronic stress is well known to reduce immune function.
(Of course, stress management skills, such as what we've been discussing on this blog for a while, in the "mind-body medicine" category, linked here, are very helpful in reducing symptoms of stress. But conscious awareness and the willingness to make life changes are also crucial.)
Veterans may be under chronic stress; but their families -- partners, significant others, children -- may also be under chronic stress. Partners and children of deployed servicemembers may also have very high scores. And care-givers for injured veterans (combat trauma, TBI, PTSD, amputations -- veterans suffer any number of serious injuries) are also at increased risk for stress-related illness.
Ideally this is a case where "knowledge is power" -- being able to quantify the stress you're under could help you to ask for help, make better choices, and prioritize self care. Let's hope so... In the meantime, here's the test:
In the past 12 months, which of the following major life events have taken place in your life?
1. Print out this form
2. Make a mark next to each event that you have experienced this year.
3. When you're done, add up the points for each event.
4. Check your score at the bottom.
_____ Death of Spouse 100
_____ Divorce 73
_____ Marital Separation 65
_____ Jail Term 63
_____ Death of close family member 63
_____ Personal injury or illness 53
_____ Marriage 50
_____ Fired from work 47
_____ Marital reconciliation 45
_____ Retirement 45
_____ Change in family member's health 44
_____ Pregnancy 40
_____ Sex difficulties 39
_____ Addition to family 39
_____ Business readjustment 39
_____ Change in financial status 38
_____ Death of close friend 37
_____ Change to a different line of work 36
_____ Change in number of marital arguments 35
_____ Mortgage or loan over $10,000 31
_____ Foreclosure of mortgage or loan 30
_____ Change in work responsibilities 29
_____ Trouble with in-laws 29
_____ Outstanding personal achievement 28
_____ Spouse begins or stops work 26
_____ Starting or finishing school 26
_____ Change in living conditions 25
_____ Revision of personal habits 24
_____ Trouble with boss 23
_____ Change in work hours, conditions 20
_____ Change in residence 20
_____ Change in schools 20
_____ Change in recreational habits 19
_____ Change in church activities 19
_____ Change in social activities 18
_____ Mortgage or loan under $10,000 17
_____ Change in sleeping habits 16
_____ Change in number of family gatherings 15
_____ Change in eating habits 15
_____ Vacation 13
_____ Christmas season 12
_____ Minor violations of the law 11
______ Your Total Score
Now, take the total score and look at the following key:
LIFE STRESS SCORES
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.
Now is the time to look into techniques to reduce stress loads, and to practice better self-care (to the extent possible.)
