The Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory

Anxiety and stress result from having too many major life changes too quickly.   Take this quick test to see if anxiety and stress may be effecting your health.

Write down the number listed on the left for every event you have experienced in the past year.  Add all of the numbers together for your total score.  The key at the end of the list will help you determine how stress may be impacting your physical health.

100    Death of spouse
73      Divorce
65      Marital Separation from mate
63      Detention in jail or other institution
63      Death of a close family member

53      Major personal injury or illness
50      Marriage
47      Being fired at work
45     Marital reconciliation with mate
45     Retirement from work

44     Major change in the health or behavior of a family member
40     Pregnancy
39     Sexual Difficulties
39     Gaining a new family member (i.e. birth, adoption, older adult moving in, etc.)
39     Major business readjustment

38     Major change in financial state (i.e.. a lot worse or better off than usual)
37     Death of a close friend
36     Changing to a different line of work
35     Major change in the number of arguments w/spouse (i.e. either a lot more or a lot less than usual regarding child rearing,          personal habits, etc.)
31      Taking on a mortgage (for home, business, etc..)

30      Foreclosure on a mortgage or loan
29      Major change in responsibilities at work (i.e. promotion, demotion, etc.)
29      Son or daughter leaving home (marriage, attending college, joined mil.)
29      In-law troubles
28     Outstanding personal achievement

26     Spouse beginning or ceasing work outside the home
26     Beginning or ceasing formal schooling
25     Major change in living condition (new home, remodeling, deterioration of neighborhood or home etc.)
24     Revision of personal habits (dress, manners, associations, quitting smoking)
23     Troubles with the boss

20     Major changes in working hours or conditions
20     Changes in residence
20     Changing to a new school
19     Major change in usual type and/or amount of recreation
19     Major change in church activity (i.e.. a lot more or less than usual)

18     Major change in social activities (clubs, movies, visiting, etc.)
17     Taking on a loan (car, tv,freezer,etc)
16     Major change in sleeping habits (a lot more or a lot less than usual)
15     Major change in number of family get-togethers
15     Major change in eating habits (a lot more or less food intake, or very different meal hours or surroundings)

13     Vacation
12     Major holidays
11     Minor violations of the law (traffic tickets, jaywalking, disturbing the peace, etc)

150pts or less
means a relatively low amount of life change and a low susceptibility to stress-induced health breakdown.

150 to 300pts
implies about a 50% chance of a major health breakdown in the next 2 years. Time to make stress management a priority.

300pts or more
raises the odds to about 80%, according to the Holmes-Rahe statistical prediction model. Time to make a list of daily action steps to reduce stress.