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.