Counseling Services of Barbara Reade, L.C.P.C.
Bel Air, Maryland 21014

Phone: 410-803-1510

Email: reade.lcpc@yahoo.com

Stress Test

This stress test has been used for over 30 years to help people determine the impact of stress on their daily lives. It has helped many people to begin to identify, prevent, or take steps to stop the harmful effects of stress in their lives.

Here is how to use this test:

Determine which life events have occurred for you over the last 2 years. Then number a piece of paper-1-43. Answer yes or no to each event that has occurred. After you finish the test you will see a scoring section. You can use this to determine how severe stress has been in your life, in your recent past or present.

1. Death of a spouse

2.Divorce

3. Marital separation (or separation from any major intimate relationship)

4. Jail term

5. Death of a close family member

6. Personal injury or illness

7. Marriage

8. Being fired from work

9. Marital problems

10. Retirement

11. Change in health of family member

12. Pregnancy

13. Sexual difficulties

14. Gain of new family member

15. Business readjustment

16. Change in finances

17. Death of a close friend

18. Change to different work type

19. Change in number of arguments with spouse

20. Mortgage or loan for major purchase (i.e. home, etc.)

21. Foreclosure of mortgage or loan

22. Changes in responsibility at work

23. Son or daughter leaving home

24. Trouble with in-laws

25. Outstanding Personal Achievement

26. Spouse begins or stops work

27. Beginning or finishing school

28. Change in living condition

29. Revision/change of personal habits

30. Trouble with boss/job

31. Change in work hours or responsibilities

32. Change in residence

33. Change in school

34. Change in recreation

35. Change in church/spiritual activities

36. Change in social activities

37. Mortgage or loan for lesser purchase ( i.e. car, etc.)

38. Change in sleeping habits

39. Change in number of family get-togethers

40. Change in eating habits

41. Vacation

42. Christmas

43. Minor violations of the law(traffic tickets, etc.)

SCORING:

1.100

2. 73

3. 65

4. 64

5. 63

6. 53

7. 50

8. 47

9. 45

10. 45

11. 44

12. 40

13. 39

14. 39

15. 39

16. 38

17. 37

18. 36

19. 35

20. 31

21. 30

22. 29

23. 29

24. 28

25. 26

26.26

27. 26

28. 25

29. 24

30. 23

31. 20

32. 20

33. 20

34. 19

35. 19

36. 18

37. 17

38. 15

39. 15

40. 15

41. 13

42. 12

43. 11

Add all of the numbers that you answered 'yes' to.

If your score is below 150 you are less likely to suffer the effects of cumulative stress.

If your score is between 150-300 you may br suffering from chronic stress, depending on how you have been able to deal with the stressful situations that have been in your life.

If your score is above 300 you are probably suffering from some of the detrimental effects of stress. These include: physical illness( can be chronic or severe), poor sleep patterns, increased irritability or difficult to control anger, difficulty in concentration, depression, anxiety, panic, obsessive thinking or acting, family problems, behavioral problems with children, increasingly dysfunctional relationships, indecision that interferes with your successful functionning, or job difficulties.

It is important to pay attention to your score. These results have been derived from interviews and studies with thousands of people, nationwide. For many people, being aware of these signs of stress can help them take preventative measures, so that they may avoid a good deal of the 'after effect' of major life stress.

If you know of someone with alot of stress, encourage them to take this test also, and if they feel limited in options or solutions to their present stressful problems, suggest they get help. Taking preventative steps to deal with stress IS the best way to avoid unpleasant consequences!