How’ve you been doing this past year?
The Social Readjustment Rating Scale* (SRRS) is an inventory of the most common life stressors and provides a correlation between Life Change scores and illness.
I first encountered the SRRS during a season of relentless chaos described in my memoir, SINCE I LOST MY BABY. Worn down and misdiagnosed by doctors with everything from meningitis to a brain aneurysm, I realized that the challenges I’d been through were what ailed me, and that having survived them, the future still held hope. - Selimah
Directions: If an event mentioned has occurred in the past year, or is expected in the near future, copy the number in the score column on the left. If the event has occurred or is expected to occur more than once, multiply this number by the frequency of the event.
100 - Death of a Spouse
76 - Divorce
65 - Marital Separation
63 - Jail Term
63 - Death of a Close Family Member
53 - Personal Injury or Illness
50 - Marriage
47 - Fired at Work
45 - Marital Reconciliation
45 - Retirement
44 - Change in Health of Family Member
40 - Pregnancy
39 - Sex Difficulties
39 - Business Readjustment
39 - Gain of a New Family Member
38 - Change in Financial State
37 - Death of a Close Friend
36 - Change to a Different Line of Work
35 - Change in Number of Arguments w/ Spouse
31 - Mortgage Over $100,000
30 - Foreclosure of Mortgage or Loan
29 - Change in Responsibilities at Work
29 - Son or Daughter Leaving Home
29 - Trouble with In-Laws
28 - Outstanding Personal Achievement
26 - Spouse Begins or Stops Work
26 - Begin or End Work
25 - Change in Living Conditions
24 - Revisions of Personal Habit
23 - Trouble with Boss
20 - Change in Work Hours or Conditions
20 - Change in Residence
20 - Change in Schools
19 - Change in Recreations
19 - Change in Church Activities
19 - Change in Social Activities
17 - Mortgage or Loan Less Than $100,000
16 - Change in Sleeping Habits
15 - Change in Number of Family Get-Togethers
15 - Change in Eating Habits
13 - Vacation
12 - Christmas Approaching
11 - Minor Violation of the Law
Results
150 or less: Low probability of a stress-related disorder.
150-299: 50% probability of a stress-related disorder
300 or higher: 80% probability of a stress-related disorder
How did you do? I’d love to hear from you about your score and if it’s changed your perspective on how you’re feeling about both the past and your future. Send me an email at contactselimah@gmail.com
*Holmes and Rahe (1967). Mortgage amounts adjusted.