Cornell University- Cornell Health Resource
Stress is our automatic response to demands, pressures, and/or competing priorities in our life.
Not all stress is bad. Some stress can motivate us and help us focus on achieving our goals. But too much stress, or stress carried too long, can activate our “fight or flight” response … which, if left unchecked, can decrease our ability to function in one or more areas of our life.
Stress is unavoidable. The goal isn’t to try to get rid of all stress. Rather, the goal is to learn to respond well to stress. This means balancing your daily stressors with the activities and attitudes that replenish the physical, mental, and emotional energy lost to stress.
Consider this stress continuum graph showing the relationship between our performance / functioning and our stress level:
Healthy Tension (Green Zone)
Moderate stress is appropriate sometimes. It helps us focus on studying for a test, or turning in a paper on time. It motivates us to do our best. When we experience “good” stress, we feel challenged, but in control, as we work toward accomplishing our goals.
Peak Performance Zone (Top of Curve)
In order to achieve our personal best – academically, or otherwise – we need to be well-prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally. This comes from a place of healthy tension (green zone), balanced with self-care practices that bolster resilience.
Imbalance (Yellow Zone)
When daily pressures build and self-care falls by the wayside, we can experience irritability, fatigue, aches and pains, sleep problems, and a decline in focus and academic performance. But it’s not too late to move back to the healthy tension zone. Rising stress can be brought back down to a more manageable level through stress management techniques and resilience-building (see below).
Breakdown (Red Zone)
When stress is left unchecked, symptoms can worsen, causing forgetfulness, serious physical complaints, illness, and feelings of anxiety, panic, and/or depression (see more signs that you’re too stressed, below). When breakdown occurs, support and assistance from others is crucial to help us recover.
Signs Your Stress is to High
Short-term stress is common. But when you can’t return to a relaxed, calm state, the sustained changes in your body – including increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, and muscle tension – it can lead to mental and physical exhaustion, illness, and a decreased ability to function.
Emotional Symptoms:
Irritability
Anxiety, fear, worry
Feeling overwhelmed
Anger
Sadness, crying
Loss of pleasure in things once enjoyed
Depression
Hopelessness
Cognitive Symptoms:
Difficulty retaining information read or heard
Unwanted or repetitive thoughts
Poor concentration
Disorganization, forgetfulness
Deterioration in quality or quantity of work
Physical Symptoms:
Muscle tension
Frequent illness
Stomach aches
Sleep disturbances
Diarrhea or constipation
Fatigue/exhaustion
Headaches
Vague aches and pains
Appetite or weight changes
Heart palpitations
Still not sure whether stress is a problem in your life? Take this Stress Quiz from Mental Health America.
Tips for Managing Stress
No one can eliminate stress entirely, but we can learn to manage it better. How you think about and respond to daily situations determines whether you find them overwhelming or manageable. Below are a few tips to help keep stress in check.
Take Care of Yourself
Prioritize sleep. Eat nutritious food each day. Get some exercise. Improving these habits alone can go a long way to mitigating your stress.
Connect with Others
Those with strong social support networks (friends, family, teammates, etc.) report less stress and overall improved mental health.
Refuse to Play the Stress Game
Sometimes we wear busyness like a badge of honor, and compete with each other about who’s more stressed. Remember that stress diminishes your quality of life, so aspire to be organized and healthy instead.
Let Go of Perfectionism
Many of us have extremely high standards for ourselves. But no one hits it out of the ballpark every time. Try to be as understanding with yourself as you would be with a friend.
Cultivate Resilience
Practice daily healthy habits including positive self-talk, physical activity, and asking for help when needed. Building resilience can help you bounce back from stress and challenges with minimal emotional upset.
Keep Things in Perspective
Ask yourself – what’s the worst thing that could happen? And what is the likelihood of that happening? Remember, no matter how bad (or good) things are right now, they will change.
Reframe
Stop negative self-talk, and give yourself some credit for your abilities and accomplishments. See mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. Overcoming the fear of failure is only accomplished by doing things you fear over and over again, resolving to bounce back, and learning throughout the process.
Learn to Meditate
Meditation has numerous proven physical and mental health benefits, including reducing reactivity to stressors and helping to put things back in perspective.
Get Out in Nature
Research shows that spending even short periods of time in nature can improve memory and ability to concentrate, as well as reduce overall stress and improve your sense of well-being.
Five Minute Stress Busters
Deep Breathing
Take slow, deep breaths through your nose – filling up your whole chest – and exhale slowly through your mouth. Try to make your exhale longer than your inhale.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Starting with your toes and working your way up to your head, slowly tighten … hold … and then relax your muscle groups (feet, legs, buttocks, abdomen, shoulders, arms, hands, face). This type of body scan exercise is also great for helping you fall asleep.
Mini-Meditation
Even two to five minutes of meditation can calm your mind and help you feel more focused and relaxed.
Visualization
Mentally rehearse a task you want to master. Imagine yourself acing the task (taking an exam, having an important conversation). Now, focus on how your success feels (excited, relieved, satisfied, smart). Re-visit this feeling often.
Change of Scenery
Get up and take a short walk. Or take the longer route to class to take in a few extra minutes of nature.
Let It Out
Laugh with a friend. Do 20 jumping jacks. Put on your favorite song and dance.
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