How does Financial Stress Affect Your Health
Are you stress over money issues?
Dr. Thomas Holmes and Dr. Richard Rahe, of the University of Washington studied the ways in which various changes affect our physical and psychological health. Their discoveries startled stress researchers. They concluded that “four out of five people who have experienced many dramatic changes in their lives over the past year can expect major illness within the next two years.” Furthermore the researchers discovered that stress-inducing changes were not limited to what we would commonly call negative events. Any condition or experience, even those in which we thoroughly rejoice, such as child, can create stress.
The doctors published their findings in what is now well known as the “Life Change Units Scale.” On this scale, events in a person’s life are given a numerical value according to amount of stress they cause. At the top of the list are: death of a spouse (100 points), divorce (73 points), marital separation (63 points).
Further down the list are such stress inducers as business readjustment (39 points), trouble with in-laws (29 points) and change in residence (20 points) and even Christmas shows a (12 point) rating.
The researchers concluded that it is dangerous for most individuals to accumulate a high stress score over a short span of time. Generally, a total score of 150 or less over twelve months is fairly normal. Between 150 and 300 indicates considerable stress, possibly injurious to one’s health. Holmes and Rahe found that of those who scored between 150 and 300, half would suffer a serious health change in the next year. Of those individuals who score over 300 on the scale, the illness rate rose to shocking 80 percent. Clearly, change affects us more than we might admit---especially the resulting financial changes that usually accompany most of the major stress inducers.
Calculate your "Life Change Units Score" Click Here
At 4 Rivers Center for Well Being we know how stress affects your overall health wellness and well-being.
If you have financial stress I can help. Contact Tom for a Free 30 Minute Financial Consultation.
The doctors published their findings in what is now well known as the “Life Change Units Scale.” On this scale, events in a person’s life are given a numerical value according to amount of stress they cause. At the top of the list are: death of a spouse (100 points), divorce (73 points), marital separation (63 points).
Further down the list are such stress inducers as business readjustment (39 points), trouble with in-laws (29 points) and change in residence (20 points) and even Christmas shows a (12 point) rating.
The researchers concluded that it is dangerous for most individuals to accumulate a high stress score over a short span of time. Generally, a total score of 150 or less over twelve months is fairly normal. Between 150 and 300 indicates considerable stress, possibly injurious to one’s health. Holmes and Rahe found that of those who scored between 150 and 300, half would suffer a serious health change in the next year. Of those individuals who score over 300 on the scale, the illness rate rose to shocking 80 percent. Clearly, change affects us more than we might admit---especially the resulting financial changes that usually accompany most of the major stress inducers.
Calculate your "Life Change Units Score" Click Here
At 4 Rivers Center for Well Being we know how stress affects your overall health wellness and well-being.
If you have financial stress I can help. Contact Tom for a Free 30 Minute Financial Consultation.