It's amazing I'm still alive =P

So Brent sent me this today when I told him I was struggling. I don't know where it comes from.... but I decided to do it. I mean, I have no idea what these numbers are. To be honest, I didn't read all the way through before I started writing numbers down. Then I read the instructions at the bottom....

LIFE EVENTS SURVEY

(CIRCLE EACH THAT APPLIES)

Life Event Average Stress Score

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

Being fired from work 47

Marital problems 45

Retirement 45

Change in health of family member 44

Pregnancy 40

Sexual difficulties 39

Gain of new family member 39

Business readjustment 39

Change in finances 38

Death of a close friend 37

Change to different line of work 36

Change in number of arguments with spouse 35

Mortgage or loan for major purchase (such as a home) 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 stops work 26

Beginning or finishing school 26

Change in living conditions 25

Revision of personal habits 24

Trouble with boss 23

Change in work hours or conditions 20

Change in residence 20

Change in school 20

Change in recreation 19

Change in church activities 19

Change in social activities 18

Mortgage or loan for lesser purchase (such as a car or TV) 17

Change in sleeping habits 16

Change in number of family get-togethers 15

Change in eating habits 15

Vacation 13

Christmas 12

Minor violations of the law 11

Determine which Life events have occurred in your life over the past two years and add up your total stress score. For example, if you got married, changed to a different line of work, changed residence, and took two vacations, your total stress score would be 50+36+20+13+13=132.

If your total stress score is under 150 you are less likely to be suffering the effects of cumulative stress. If it is between 150 and 300, you may be suffering from chronic stress, depending on how you perceived and coped with the particular life events that occurred. If your score is over 300, it is likely you are experiencing some detrimental effects of cumulative stress. Please note that the stress scores on the above survey are averaged over many people. The degree to which any particular event is stressful to you will depend on how you perceive it.

A conservative estimate puts me at 723 over the last 2 years. Granted this is completely arbitrary, but that's over double the spot where you are "likely you are experiencing some detrimental effects of cumulative stress."

I feel way better about my not-so-great-day. Thank you Brent!

In other news, I love how "Christmas" is a 12. =)