STRESSFUL THINGS: A HANDY LIST

(March, 2017) A report by The Physiological Society of England asked 2,000 people to rate how stressful they found key events. While obvious situations such as the death of a loved one, or becoming seriously ill scored highly, so did modern concerns such as identity theft, commuter delays and even going on vacation. The threat of a terror attack came 13th on the list of stressful events, just one point above losing a smartphone, and well below planning a wedding, or moving house.
1. Death of spouse/relative/friend
2. Imprisonment
3. Flood/fire damaging your home
4. Being seriously ill
5. Being fired
6. Separation/divorce
7. Identity theft
8. Unexpected money problems
9. Starting a new job
10. Planning a wedding
11. Arrival of first child
12. Commute delays
13. Terrorist threats
14. Losing smartphone
15. Moving to bigger house
16. Brexit
17. Going on vacation
18. Promotion/success at work
* 19. Being stuck anywhere with Ricky Gervais.
* Huh, that’ll teach those terrorists. You’re just not that big a deal.
* I mean you’re not even as stressful as a commute delay – so deal with that.
* This is England? Where’s “going to the dentist”?
* Oh, wait – I got that backwards. They hardly ever go to the dentist. Never mind.
* Yes, moving to a bigger house is stressful, but not as stressful as moving to a campground.
* Frankly, I see some stress items that are missing here. Like what about losing the remote.
* Wait, going on vacation is stressful? Talk about first world problems.