Dr. Phil - Stress Scale

Stress Scale

Chapter 5, page 86.

The next audit is an inventory of stressors in your life — those events or situations that have the potential to rob you of health, peace, and joy if you let them. Stressors are what they are: they're a part of life; they happen. They come and go; they scram or stay. It's important to identify and consciously acknowledge your stressors so that you can begin to work on reducing them to manageable levels. Let's get started on this next important audit.

Check off the stressors that you have experienced in the last twelve months:

1.	(95)	Death of a child
2.	(93)	Divorce
3.	(90)	Death of a spouse
4.	(80)	Death of a parent
5.	(80)	Spouse's or partner's betrayal of trust
6.	(80)	New marriage
7.	(75)	Job change after age of 45
8.	(70)	Conflict between you and your spouse
9.	(70)	Conflict with boss where job is threatened
10.	(65)	Significant negative medical diagnosis
11.	(55)	Change of home location
12.	(50)	Retirement
13.	(50)	Conflict between you and your teenager
14.	(50)	Conflict between you and your parent
15.	(40)	40th, 50th, 60th, 75th, or 80th birthdays
16.	(35)	Significant traumatic injury (include heart attack if appropriate)
17.	(35)	Having to commit parent to assisted-care home or facility
18.	(30)	Job change
19.	(30)	Marriage of daughter
20.	(25)	Chronic pain condition
21.	(25)	Best friend's betrayal of trust
22.	(25)	Last child leaving home
23.	(20)	Purchase of a new car or house
24.	(20)	Big family celebration or get-together
25.	(10)	Overly-demanding job responsililities

SCORING AND INTERPRETATION
The number in the parentheses indicates the average intensity of stress on a scale from 10 (low stress) to 95 (paralyzing stress). Your score is the sum of the checked numbers.
If your score is btween 0 and 30, you are under very little stress at present and very likely have good physical and mental health.
If your score ranges from 35 to 65, the stress in your life may begin to undermine your weight loss efforts and harm your overall health.
A score above 65 indicates that you are undergoing significant stress, and this may initiate bouts of overeating as well as disease-causing changes in your biochemistry. You need support and must work toward acquiring some very specific tools of stress management.