Articles
Handling Stress
The Social Readjustment Rating Scale was created by Thomas Holmes & Richard Rahe in the late 1960s. Here is a partial list of stressors and their relative point values:
Marital separation – 65; death of close family member – 63; personal injury/illness – 53; fired at work – 47; retirement – 45; pregnancy – 40; change in finances – 38; different line of work – 36; mortgage over $100,000 – 31; child leaving home – 29; in-law troubles – 29; trouble with boss – 23; relocation – 20.
“Important life changes, whether positive such as marriage or negative, such as the death of a close friend all induce stress … The stress caused … varies greatly from one person to the next because of the variability in the circumstances, interpretation, goals, personality, values coping strategy, and resources” of each person. However, Holmes and Rahe determined that, “If your score is 300 or more, statistically you stand an almost 80% chance of getting sick in the near future.”
How well do you cope with stress? Many turn to alcohol, drugs, anger, violence, etc. But one of the best destressors comes from one who himself didn’t always handle stress well: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet 5:6-7). Peter had learned that he was no match for this world without God. Neither are we.
