Thus, both winning the lottery and losing the lottery are considered stressful. Researchers have studied major life events and generally agree on events almost everyone finds stressful. They find that the more stress you have, the greater your chance of developing an illness in the next 24 month period.
However, the usual stress scales do not take into account stressors that are unique to women. That is why I have revised the usual male-orientated stress test.
Take five minutes now and see where you rate on the stress scale for life events.
Women Centred Stress Test
DIRECTIONS: Think over what has happened in your life in the past two years, especially the last six months. Jot down the point values for events that apply to you in the column in the center.
If you feel the point scoring is under or overestimating the impact of the event on your life, you may adjust the points upward or downward as necessary. For example, the death of a beloved parent versus an abusive parent may have different effects on you. The first may produce a prolonged mourning periods, the latter a sense of relief and freedom.
| LOW | YOU | HIGH |
Death of a child | 75 | ______ | 100 |
Death of a spouse, partner, close friend, or lover | 75 | ______ | 100 |
More than one loved one dies within short time | 75 | ______ | 100 |
Home destroyed by fire, earthquake or flooding | 75 | ______ | 100 |
Serious personal injury resulting in paralysis | 75 | ______ | 100 |
Suicide attempt | 63 | ______ | 84 |
Death of a close family member | 63 | ______ | 84 |
Rape, sexual abuse, battering | 63 | ______ | 84 |
Divorce or end of long-term relationship | 63 | ______ | 84 |
Discovering you have cancer or AIDS | 63 | ______ | 84 |
Caretaking seriously ill spouse, lover, family member or child | 63 | ______ | 84 |
Jail term | 63 | ______ | 84 |
Survivor of political torture or genocide | 63 | ______ | 84 |
Marital or long-term relationship separation | 51 | ______ | 70 |
Chronic illness like heart, kidney or lung disease | 51 | ______ | 70 |
Chronic pain | 51 | ______ | 70 |
Chronic fatigue syndrome | 51 | ______ | 70 |
Major disability | 51 | ______ | 70 |
Personal injury or major illness | 51 | ______ | 70 |
Single mom with inadequate finances or support | 45 | ______ | 63 |
Memories of sexual abuse surface | 45 | ______ | 63 |
Declaring bankruptcy, large financial losses | 45 | ______ | 63 |
Alcoholic spouse or partner | 44 | ______ | 62 |
Hysterectomy, mastectomy or other major surgery on female organs | 44 | ______ | 62 |
Traumatic delivery, C-Section, miscarriage | 44 | ______ | 62 |
Complicated pregnancy, difficult menopause, Severely incapacitating PMS | 44 | ______ | 62 |
Chronic sleep lack | 44 | ______ | 62 |
Chronic yeast, bladder, pelvic or other infections | 44 | ______ | 62 |
Women having two full-time jobs, both inside and outside the home | 37 | ______ | 53 |
Major unresolved conflict(s) in family or personal relationship | 37 | ______ | 53 |
Major financial difficulties | 37 | ______ | 53 |
Fired from work or laid off | 37 | ______ | 53 |
Revealing lesbian sexual orientation to family, friends or workplace | 37 | ______ | 53 |
Discrimination due to age, sex, race or sexual preference | 34 | ______ | 50 |
Fearful of going out at night after dark, fear of being raped and/or beaten on the way to work, at bus stops, or in the streets | 37 | ______ | 50 |
Dieting, bulemia, anorexia | 34 | ______ | 50 |
Abuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs or alcohol | 34 | ______ | 50 |