BRELAXED STRESS CONSULTANCY

By Michelle Pearson

ARE YOU STRESSED?

Coopers Life Stress Inventory (1988)
Coopers life stress inventory can help measure life changes and susceptibility to stress related illness. You may have seen the Holmes and Rahe Scale for stress, which was designed in the 60's, it is a useful tool for measuring stress, but it can also be restrictive. (Having said that, I have included it on the next page). If a specific event occurred a score would be given, this is one of the big differences between Holmes and Rahe and this scale. Coopers assessment is a subjective scoring system - you choose how stressful an event is/was.

Before completing this questionnaire, the best approach is to stay with your original response, rather than begin to 'think' about the answers. That way you will have a more accurate assessment.

Say 'YES' to each event that has occurred in your life during the last two years. Then, decide on a number, which describes how upsetting the event was for you. For example, 1 represents not upsetting, 10 represents very upsetting. (Just in case you require it, there is a calculator at the end of the questionnaire to add up your score - this is only available to those with JavaScript enabled on their web browser).

AN INTERACTIVE VERSION IS AVAILABLE CLICK HERE.

EVENT YES NO SCALE

Bought House yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sold house yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Moved house yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Major house renovation yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Separation from loved one yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

End of relationship yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Got engaged yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Got married yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Marital problems yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Awaiting divorce yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Divorce yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Child started school / nursery yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Increased care for elderly or ill person yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Problems with relatives yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Problems with friends and neighbours yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Pet related problems yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Change in nature of work yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Threat of redundancy yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Changed job yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Made redundant yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Unemployed yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Retired yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Increased or new bank loan / mortgage yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Financial difficulty yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Insurance problem yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Legal problem yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Emotional or physical illness of close family or relative yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Serious illness of close family or relative requiring hospitalisation yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Surgical operation experienced by a family member or relative yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Death of a husband yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Death of a family member or relative yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Death of a close friend yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Emotional or physical illness of yourself yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Serious illness requiring your own hospitalisation yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Surgical operation on yourself yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Pregnancy yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Birth of a child yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Birth of a grand child yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Family member left home yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Difficult relationship with children yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Difficult relationship with parents yes no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Top of the page

All you have to do now is add up your scores. You may have been surprised at the number of events that have happened in the last two years. This is quite normal, often it is not until we see something in black and white that we begin to realise why we may have been feeling the way we have. If you have been honest with yourself, you should by now have a total. As this questionnaire is subjective, the total is representative of how you FEEL now. Do not doubt yourself and please do not ignore your findings. There is little point in changing your scoring honesty = an accurate assessment. This is a tool, it is here to help you see if stress is 'interfering' in your life. I would like to point out that the result is a group-based score as in between 1 and 50. The lower your score the better.
Low levels of stress = 1-50
moderate levels of stress = 50+
high levels of stress = anything from 90+
What was your score? Has this helped you in anyway? Do you feel any relief or justification that your feelings have been correct? Are you now able to take the next step, whatever that may be?
If after completing this questionnaire you have concerns about yourself, friend, or relative then please ask for help. Stress is not something that can be 'cured' but there are ways to ensure it does not have a 'hold' or as large an impact on you personally and those around you.

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| General web site idea | Personal Information | The Package I offer | Are you stressed? | Interactive stress questionnaire | Holmes and Rahe scale | Personality questionnaire | The very basics - my stance | Identify your own strengths and Weaknesses (interactive) | Common stress related symptoms | Another reminder | Fight or Flight syndrome | Relaxation insights |Body awareness and muscular tension | Passive progressive muscular relaxation | Active progressive muscular relaxation | Relationship between stress and breathing | Do you breathe correctly? | Relationship between stress and breathing CONT | Diagrammatic form of the lungs etc | The two main breathing patterns | Stress and breathing | Hyperventilating/hyperventilation | hyperventilation - part 2 | Deep breathing | Square breathing | Complete breathing control | Relationship between stress and illness | Stress and negative thinking patterns recognising and challenging them | Stress logs | Negative and positive beliefs, feelings and behaviour | Picture to make you smile | Self esteem building - NEW | Assertiveness Training - NEW | Assertiveness Training Cont - NEW | Assertiveness Training Skills - NEW | Assertiveness Training - Bill of Rights - NEW | Relaxation Room - NEW | Links

Thank you for your visit - Michelle Pearson.
Email: michellepearson@worldonline .co.uk.