In 1967, Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe of the University of Washington did a study on the connection between major life events and illness. As part of that study, they compiled a chart of the top causes of stress. That chart, which contained 43 causes of stress in 1967, was updated to 55 causes in 2006. Apparently, society is finding more causes to feel stressed.
If you knew the main causes of stress in your life, would you take steps to eradicate them? Can you eradicate stress, or is it an inoperable condition that will be with you your entire life, possibly causing your eventual death?
What is your main cause of stress?
1. Finance
Most studies agree that finances are one of the main causes of stress. In a 2005 online survey conducted by LifeCare, Inc., 23 percent of respondents cited finances as the leading cause of stress in their lives. Financial stress has topped the list in many modern surveys.
Some who mention finances as the main cause of stress mention important purchases they have to make, such as a house or a car. Others are stressed out by a loss of income or mounting credit card debt. For some, financial stress will end in bankruptcy. While college students worry about paying for education, Baby Boomers and seniors find that retirement income can be a major cause of stress.
2. Work
Closely linked to finances as a cause of stress is work. Our jobs or careers seem to cause constant stress. In the LifeCare survey, 21 percent of respondents cited this as the leading cause of stress in life.
How is the workplace a cause of stress? We care about getting and keeping a suitable job. We worry about new types of work or new responsibilities. We struggle to move up the career ladder, overwhelmed by the demands. Working conditions can change or we can have an interpersonal disorder at work. Students, especially teens and college-age students, cite school work as a cause of stress. Sometimes others cause job stress. Sometimes we bring it ourselves.
3. Family
Family, as wonderful as each member is, is also a major cause of stress. Arguments break out with a spouse or other family member. The parents divorce. Children get married. The ebb and flow of family life is fraught with stress. A child moves, an elderly parent moves.
Family health is also one of the main causes of stress. A sick family member, a serious injury, a pregnancy, a miscarriage, or an abortion all cause stress. Family changes of another kind also bring stress. Adoption, relocation, and job changes for a single family member can cause stress for everyone.
4. Personal concerns
Personal worries that are only indirectly created by others are another major cause of stress. Lack of control tops the list of personal concerns. Every human being has a deep-seated desire to control his own life. When control is weak or lacking in a certain area, we experience stress. For many people, a lack of control over their own time is one of the main causes of stress. We want to determine when we do chores at home or at work. Having a job, participating in the kids’ carpool to school, taking the family to soccer practice, shopping, and scout meetings while trying to keep the home running can create significant stress. You would like to control your time, rather than letting the demands of others control you, but that is not always possible.
We may be involved in stressful legal proceedings. We may be struggling with a bad habit. We may be going through changes. Personal changes of any kind can be stressful.
5. Personal health and safety
Most people find that personal health is one of the main causes of stress. For some, stress is related to obesity and the desire to lose weight. For others, stress is a basic personal habit that affects health and must be changed. For example, smoking, alcohol or other drug abuse. Illnesses or injuries, whether minor or major, can be a major cause of stress for many people. Incontinence can be a constant concern. Personal health is more or less stressful depending on the degree of severity and our personal vision of health.
Personal safety is also one of the main causes of stress. Women, more than men, tend to emphasize their own safety and that of others. Adults tend to be more stressed than young people, who can act invincibly. Crime is a factor, as it is
6. Personal relationships
Whether it’s a friendship, a date, a separation, a marriage, a divorce, or a new marriage, a relationship can be a major cause of stress for many. We all want love, and that is potentially available in relationships, but going from A to B can be very stressful. Some turn to online relationships that are easier to manage. Others withdraw and are secluded. Either way, the demands on time, finances, and emotions can cause ongoing stress.
7. Death
Probably the most heartbreaking cause of stress is the death of a loved one or close friend. Even the death of a pet can be stressful. Children are always a source of stress for parents, but when a child dies, the stress is overwhelming. The same is true when a life spouse dies.
Win or lose
The causes of stress change as we age. The stressed out boy who threw tantrums becomes a young student, stressed out by the school bully. The young student becomes a teenager, stressed out by acne, hormones, and dating. The adolescent becomes a young adult trying to manage the stress of leaving home, adjusting to college life, and managing finances. Life progresses to first jobs, marriage, children, etc. Even if you move into a secluded cabin in the woods, stress will follow.
It is important to know the main causes of stress. Using that knowledge to beat unhealthy stress is vital.