Stress is characterized as a condition of anxiety or tension in the mind brought on by a challenging circumstance. Stress is a normal human reaction that motivates us to deal with problems and dangers in our lives.
Characteristics/Symptoms:
If you are under stress, you may be:
Overthinking
Easily annoyed or angry
Constantly worried or tensed
Unable to remember properly
Restlessness
Eating more or less than needed
Unable to concentrate
Nervous habits (pacing or nail biting)
Aches and pains (commonly the head and chest area)
Anxious
Nausea or dizziness
Existing health problems getting worse
Changes to your menstrual cycle
Know that these are only some signs and your body is not limited to only these.
Different kinds of stress:
Eustress
Positive stress, often known as “eustress,” is the controlled kind of stress that can inspire you to take on difficulties in your personal or professional life. Stress may force you to step outside of your comfort zone, but it may also prepare you for challenges like job interviews and first dates, as well as tasks that require you to expand yourself and pick up new abilities.
Distress
It is the stress that causes you to feel overwhelmed. Negative stress can harm your outlook and mood, interfere with your sleep, and lead to health problems like anxiety and depression. When you feel that you are experiencing more stress than you can manage—whether it is due to a sickness or loss, feeling overly busy at work, or not having enough money—you are said to be in distress.
Academic Stress:
Students face rising academic stress due to diverse reasons: the pressure to excel, competition for limited opportunities, societal expectations, technology’s influence fostering constant comparison, the emphasis on achievement, and the complexity of modern education systems. These factors combine, creating an overwhelming environment for students, elevating their stress levels.
A few tips to handle academic stress:
Organize and Prioritize. Break tasks into smaller, manageable parts and prioritize them. A to-do list or planner can be incredibly helpful.
Time Management. Allocate specific time slots for study, rest, and relaxation. Balancing work and leisure is key.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques. Practices like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga can alleviate stress.
Set Realistic Goals. Be kind to yourself and set achievable goals. Unrealistic expectations can lead to unnecessary stress.
Take Breaks. Don’t forget to take short breaks during study sessions to recharge your mind.
Remember, managing stress is about finding what works best for you.
Causes:
There are several reasons to feel stress because really, anything at all can cause stress. You may feel stressed due to experiencing discrimination of any kind, exams, loss of friendships, death of family/friends, having too many responsibilities and not having control over the outcome of any situation.
Treatments:
Here are some ways to relieve stress:
Reach out to people. When you’re feeling anxious or uneasy, the act of conversing with someone face-to-face might release stress-relieving chemicals. A simple pleasant glance or a few words of comfort from another person may go a long way towards calming and soothing your nervous system. So, make time for the individuals who lift your spirits, and don’t allow your obligations to prevent you from maintaining a social life. Make it a goal to develop deeper and more fulfilling connections if you don’t have any close relationships or if your relationships are the cause of your stress. Feel free to use our social space to do just that!
Put your senses to use. Using one or more of your senses—sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, or movement—is another quick method to reduce stress. Finding the sensory input that is most effective for you is the key. Try a few different approaches to see what works best for you as each person has a somewhat different response to sensory information.
Check out our resources! We have provided guides (PDFs), websites, apps, and much more to help you calm your stress.
