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You don't need to live long in this world to recognize that
when things happen that we consider bad, our stress anxiety
levels go up. Almost anyone who has had worked challenges
are experienced relationship breakups can recognize the increase
in stress and anxiety, at least initially.
There's a stress and anxiety rating scale that was developed
by Dr. Thomas H. Holmes and Dr. Richard H. Rahe in 1967. They
created the SRRS or social readjustment rating scale. The
initial work in follow-up study suggested that we as humans
are creatures that prefer stability and downright consistency
in our lives. This is an interesting list of life events that
may help prepare you for the inevitable changes we all experience
The work of Homes and Rahe suggested three major considerations
that they were trying to prove.
1. Problems and misfortune have a cumulative effect on our
psyche. This means that although we may be able to withstand
a major change such as job loss or death of a loved one as
individual events, if they both happen at the same time the
effects can be overwhelming
2. A new situation, routine or change can be a key factor
in an increased stress.
3. Although stress may vary in intensity depending on the
person and situation, almost everyone can identify and has
suffered through stressful life events
The research resulted in a list of 47 individual stressors
or stress causing events. These events were then ranked according
to their perceived seriousness, or a kind of stress-o-meter
type of indicator. An example is death of a spouse is ranked
at a 100 and is the most stressful situation identified.
While loss of your job or a layoff is not on the list, being
fired from your job ranks ninth in overall stress. The idea
however is to review the list, and recognize the stress related
issues that may come with a significant event like a job loss.
The idea is that by using the list of stressors, you can get
an indication of how these stressful events may impact your
overall health.
While anxiety is often associated with continued are unwarranted
worry, there are many who say that worry is misplaced when
you can't do anything about a situation. Few of us however
are able to compartmentalize our thoughts to allow us to ignore
issues that may impact us in the future.
Using the Holmes and Rahe stressor list, you may be able to
better prepare yourself for the anxiety and stressful events
that will sooner or later, enter your life. I've posted a
copy of the list and useful instructions on the site below
for your use. I thank the psychology department at the University
of Iowa for the information. http://www.psychology.uiowa.edu/
One interesting aspect of the stress and anxiety list is
that over one third of the identified stressful life events
are identified as changes in a life pattern. Some are as serious
as a change in a family member's health, while others are
simply identified as a change in recreation.
Abigail Franks writes on many subjects which includes anxiety
and depression. visit her site to find more information about
Anxietyand Depression
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_114141_17.html
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