Managing stress: a guide to living the hectic life
Rhonda Harris-Scott
Health Columnist
It is three months until the end of the semester, but already some of you are feeling the effects of stress. How are you going to conquer the “stress beast,” so when December rolls around you can feel relaxed and ready to ace your tests? First, you need to understand what stress is, and then you can begin to prioritize and manage your time more efficiently.
According to “Saunders’ Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health,” stress is “the sum of the biological reactions to any adverse stimulus, physical, mental, or emotional, internal or external, that tends to disturb the homeostasis of an organism.” Usually in a minor stressful situation, the body immediately adapts to the stressor and no effects are noticed. After repeated bouts of stress a person’s body will react by increasing the hormone epinephrine in the bloodstream. This hormone may cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Katherine McCune, a registered nurse in the Student Counseling Center, said, “Stress can also affect appetite by causing us to overeat or under eat.” The majority of the research on the link between disease and stress suggests that decreasing the amount of psychological and physical stress is, in general, better for a person’s health.
Heidi Gunderson, a counselor in the Student Counseling Center, said the top five stressors students look for assistance with are:
1. Adjusting to college life.
2. Time management: feeling overwhelmed with completing college requirements and activities within four years.
3. Stress about the future: career, finances, and relationships, “Where do I go from here when all my life has been planned for me thus far?”
4. Gaining the “freshmen 15.”
5. Declaring a major and maintaining a high GPA.
All or none of these stressors may affect you at this time. You may have to devote quality time toward creating a list of what you think the major and minor stressors are. Then you should categorize the stressors from moderate to severe. Most people probably want to tackle the biggest, most severe stressors first, but Gunderson suggested that you “start with the least, minor stress. Taking baby steps is the only way to manage stress … or conquering your stressors may become your biggest stress.”
Staying away from alcohol, drugs, smoking or other risky behavior should be your next step. Do your best to change the stressful situation. Set realistic and defined goals, get organized, prioritize events, manage your time more effectively, communicate, try to relax and practice some sort of relaxation technique (prayer, deep breathing, listening to music or meditation). McCune also has the following suggestions:
1. Don’t skip meals or snacks.
2. Do eat light and healthful meals and snacks.
3. Eat slowly! Enjoy your food and try and relax.
You can deal with stress! But, if you want help you can call ext. 4210 to set up an appointment in the Student Counseling Center.
09-23-2004