27/08/2021
Stress : Is It Your Major ??
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On this page:
: Recognizing Stress Overload
: What is the Difference Between Anxiety and Stress
: Common Effects of Stress
: Stress Busters
: Getting Help
: For more information
Recognizing stress overload:
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College life is full of new experiences and discoveries, deadlines and demands. For many students, this way of life can cause feelings of anxiety and stress. In addition, these feelings might be exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Stress isn't always bad, however. In small doses, it can help motivate you to do your best and perform under pressure. But when you're living in a perpetual state of emergency or worry about the future, your mind and body can pay the price and you can start to feel out of balance.
Stress is cumulative. Your early signs of stress may include headaches, irritability, nervous stomach or disrupted sleep. Once you learn to recognize your own early warning signs, you will know that these symptoms are your body's way of telling you to slow down and find a way to de-stress.
If you do not heed the warning, your stress and anxiety can continue to build and cause serious disruption emotionally, physically, academically and socially. Stress can impact your relationships, your ability to concentrate during remote or in-person classes, and it can have a negative effect on your immune system, making you more prone to illness.
The good news is that you can protect yourself by recognizing the signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects.
What is the difference between anxiety and stress?
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Stress is the normal physical response that you have when you are faced with a challenge. This challenge might be a paper deadline coming up, an important meeting, or a job interview. Feelings of stress often dissipate after the stressful experience or challenge has ended.
Anxiety, on the other hand, is a different condition altogether and is more similar to constant fear. It often occurs for no identifiable reason. For some people, worry and anxiety can become overwhelming and disrupt their quality of life. Excessive and lasting bouts of worry may reflect an anxiety disorder and will require different treatment. See more about Anxiety Disorders and Panic Attacks.
Common effects of stress:
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Stress affects every aspect of our lives. You may experience mental, behavioral, physical and emotional symptoms. While these symptoms are common during stressful times, people with anxiety disorders may experience them in absence of a stressful experience.
On your body :== Headache, muscle tension or pain,
chest pain, fatigue, change in s*x drive, stomach
upset, sleep problems, frequent illness
On your emotions ::== Anxiety, restlessness, lack of
motivation or focus, irritability or anger, sadness or
depression, forgetfulness, feeling overwhelmed,
insecurity
On your behavior ::== Over or under eating, angry
outbursts, drug/alcohol use, social withdrawal,
sleeping too much or too little, relationship
conflicts, crying spells, avoidance/procrastination
Stress Busters:
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Stress management is an important skill and it is worth taking the time to figure out what works best for you. Taking care of your mind and body can go a long way toward managing your stress level and help restore yourself to balance. Here are some suggestions...
*Get enough Sleep.
*Eat a well-balanaced diet. Sugar and processed
foods can make stress worse.
*Exercise regularly. Find movement you enjoy that allows you to release tension.
* Learn deep breathing/relaxation techniques like these One-Minute Stress Strategies.
* Pay attention to negative self-talk.
* Meditate, for example with Mindfulness-Based Meditation.
* Find and reserve quiet study spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Practice saying "no" to situations that you aren't comfortable with and people that add stress to your life
* Call a friend or someone you trust
* Limit your Caffeine intake.
* Avoid using Alcohol or Other Drugs in an attempt to relieve stress.
* Manage your time and energy -- you can prioritize your "to-do" list based not only on time but on your energy for the task.
* Laugh! Watch a funny movie Watch a funny movie with friends using Netflix Party or try other ways to connect virtually.
* Take time for relaxation, fun and hobbies. Read for pleasure, learn a new instrument, do a craft or follow along to a yoga video on YouTube.
Getting help:
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Students often feel as though they should be able to cope with everything. If excessive worry and stress is impacting the quality of your life, it is time to get help. A mental health clinician or a physician can help you identify a variety of treatment options that can help you find relief.
There are a number of resources available on campus that can help you gain a better understanding of the ways stress and anxiety impact you.
Clinical Social Workers can provide recommendations and referrals.
For more information:
See Resources for Stress and Mental Health
