stress management : Counseling Services
Stress Management
Introduction
Stress is a part of day to day living. As college students you may experience stress meeting academic demands, adjusting to a new living environment, or developing friendships. The stress you experience is not necessarily harmful. Mild forms of stress can act as a motivator and energizer. However, if your stress level is too high, medical and social problems can result.
What is Stress?
Although we tend to think of stress as caused by external events, events in themselves are not stressful. Rather, it is the way in which we interpret and react to events that makes them stressful. People differ dramatically in the type of events they interpret as stressful and the way in which they respond to such stress. For example, speaking in public can be stressful for some people and relaxing for others.
Symptoms of Stress
There are several signs and symptoms that you may notice when you are experiencing stress. These signs and symptoms fall into four categories: Feelings, Thoughts, Behavior, and Physiology. When you are under stress, you may experience one or more of the following:
Feelings
Feeling anxious.
Feeling scared.
Feeling irritable.
Feeling moody.
Thoughts
Low self-esteem.
Fear of failure.
Inability to concentrate.
Embarrassing easily.
Worrying about the future.
Preoccupation with thoughts/tasks.
Forgetfulness.
Behavior
Stuttering and other speech difficulties.
Crying for no apparent reason.
Acting impulsively.
Startling easily.
Laughing in a high pitch and nervous tone of voice.
Grinding your teeth.
Increasing smoking.
Increasing use of drugs and alcohol.
Being accident prone.
Losing your appetite or overeating.
Physiology
Perspiration /sweaty hands.
Increased heart beat.
Trembling.
Nervous ticks.
Dryness of throat and mouth.
Tiring easily.
Urinating frequently.
Sleeping problems.
Diarrhea / indigestion / vomiting.
Butterflies in stomach.
Headaches.
Premenstrual tension.
Pain in the neck and or lower back.
Loss of appetite or overeating.
Susceptibility to illness.
© 2006, Student Affairs - University at Buffalo
Introduction
Stress is a part of day to day living. As college students you may experience stress meeting academic demands, adjusting to a new living environment, or developing friendships. The stress you experience is not necessarily harmful. Mild forms of stress can act as a motivator and energizer. However, if your stress level is too high, medical and social problems can result.
What is Stress?
Although we tend to think of stress as caused by external events, events in themselves are not stressful. Rather, it is the way in which we interpret and react to events that makes them stressful. People differ dramatically in the type of events they interpret as stressful and the way in which they respond to such stress. For example, speaking in public can be stressful for some people and relaxing for others.
Symptoms of Stress
There are several signs and symptoms that you may notice when you are experiencing stress. These signs and symptoms fall into four categories: Feelings, Thoughts, Behavior, and Physiology. When you are under stress, you may experience one or more of the following:
Feelings
Feeling anxious.
Feeling scared.
Feeling irritable.
Feeling moody.
Thoughts
Low self-esteem.
Fear of failure.
Inability to concentrate.
Embarrassing easily.
Worrying about the future.
Preoccupation with thoughts/tasks.
Forgetfulness.
Behavior
Stuttering and other speech difficulties.
Crying for no apparent reason.
Acting impulsively.
Startling easily.
Laughing in a high pitch and nervous tone of voice.
Grinding your teeth.
Increasing smoking.
Increasing use of drugs and alcohol.
Being accident prone.
Losing your appetite or overeating.
Physiology
Perspiration /sweaty hands.
Increased heart beat.
Trembling.
Nervous ticks.
Dryness of throat and mouth.
Tiring easily.
Urinating frequently.
Sleeping problems.
Diarrhea / indigestion / vomiting.
Butterflies in stomach.
Headaches.
Premenstrual tension.
Pain in the neck and or lower back.
Loss of appetite or overeating.
Susceptibility to illness.
© 2006, Student Affairs - University at Buffalo
