Developmental (i.e., life-transition events): Birth of child, graduation from college, midlife career change, retirement

Existential (i.e., inner conflicts and anxieties related to purpose, responsibility, independence, freedom, or commitment):

Realization that one will never make a significant impact on one’s profession, remorse that one has never married or had children, despair that one’s life has been meaningless

Environmental (i.e., natural or man-made disasters): Tornado, earthquake, floods, hurricanes, forest or grass fires

Medical (i.e., a newly diagnosed medical condition or an exacerbation of a current medical problem): Multiple sclerosis, human immunodeficiency virus infection, infertility, myocardial infarction, cancer, medical problems that result in partial or total disability

Psychiatric (i.e., actual syndromes and those that affect coping): Depression or suicidal thoughts, events precipitating acute or post-traumatic stress disorder

Situational (i.e., uncommon, situation-specific events): Loss of job, motor-vehicle collision, divorce, rape