CLG STRESS

 College is an exciting time, full of new challenges that continually drive you to expand your horizons. While some of these experiences can be thrilling, others may simply leave you feeling stressed. In fact, many college students feel stress while going to school. Only 1.6 percent of undergraduates reported that they felt no stress in the last 12 months, according to the National College Health Assessment (NCHA).

Being able to manage stress is crucial for your academic success and personal well-being in college. Luckily, this guide from Western Governors University will provide you with information about how to recognize different kinds of stress, various sources of stress for college students, as well as tips for coping in a healthy way. If you are able to identify and understand stress, you will be able to ensure your time as a student is rewarding and enjoyable.

What is stress?

Stress is a normal and necessary part of life. It is your fight-or-flight response to challenges you see in the world. This natural reaction has certain physical effects on the body to allow you to better handle these challenges, such as increased heart rate and blood circulation. While it can manifest differently for each individual, the National Institute of Mental Health notes that everyone feels stress at some point in their lives, regardless of age, gender, or circumstance.

Though it is a universal human experience, the American Institute of Stress (AIS) notes that defining and measuring stress is difficult because “there has been no definition of stress that everyone accepts” and “people have very different ideas with respect to their definition of stress.” They also state that a definition of stress is incomplete without mention of good stress (called eustress), its physical effects, or the body’s instinctive fight-or-flight response

Signs and symptoms of stress.

Stress isn’t just a physical reaction; it can also affect your emotions, behavior, and cognition. Just as everyone is stressed by different things, everyone experiences its effects in different ways.

Certain signs of stress can be confused with other ailments. Be sure to understand how it affects you so you can correctly identify when you are experiencing stress. Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:

Emotional

Feelings of agitation or irritability.

Inability to relate.

Lowered self-esteem, loneliness, depression.

Feeling overwhelmed or out of control.

Physical

Tension headaches and other muscle pains, such as in the jaw.

Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath.

Stomachaches, pains, nausea.

Shakiness, clammy or sweaty hands, tinnitus.

Behavioral

Sudden change in appetite.

Avoidance of tasks and responsibilities.

Increased use of alcohol, smoking, or drugs.

Nervous behaviors such as fidgeting or nail biting.

Cognitive

Being forgetful and disorganized.

Inability to focus or concentrate.

Constantly worrying.

Incessant stream of thoughts.

Difficulty with memories.

Keep in mind that these are just a few of the many signs of stress; the AIS identifies fifty of them, and notes that there may even be more effects that we haven’t been able to recognize yet.

Causes of stress in college.

Though everyone experiences it differently and has their own distinct stressors, researchers have found that many college students share several common sources of stress. Whether you major in business or education, you likely share at least one common stressor with your peers. From worries about your health to concerns about your life after graduation, here are some of the most common causes of stress in college students:

Health.

In a survey conducted by the APA, 63 percent of adults cite “health-related concerns” as their number one source of stress. For college students, in particular, worries about or issues with health might be a major stressor because of how it can impact academic performance. The NCHA reported that the academic performance of nearly 30 percent of students was impacted by a physical ailment, ranging from allergies to bronchitis.

Regardless if the cause is a simple cold, mental health condition, or chronic illness, one thing remains the same: when you’re sick, it can be difficult to keep up with your studies. If you are contagious, you should avoid attending class (unless you are a distance learner or can sit in on the lecture at home), which means missing out on important information from your professor. Even if you aren’t contagious but are simply feeling under the weather, you may not have the energy to focus on the lectures and assignments.

Tips to maintain your health as a student

If a particular illness is going around your campus or community, try your best to avoid contact with anyone who is contagious and wash your hands frequently. Everyone gets sick on occasion; accept that, despite your best efforts, you might too. If you do catch something, take care of yourself and rest as much as possible before resuming your normal activities.

Balancing work, school, and family life.

In college, you have to figure out the right balance between work, family, and school. The academic load in college is often larger and involves more complicated work than in high school. Attempting to keep up with that, on top of your job and family responsibilities, can add additional stress to your daily life — especially if your family and work obligations are so demanding that you fall behind with your schoolwork.

For non-traditional students, in particular, achieving that balance can be difficult. While traditional students may be worried about missing another call from their parents, if you are a non-traditional student, you may have children of your own to take care of. You may have to focus your energy on financially supporting your family or caring for your sick children, instead of school.

Tips to balance family, school, and work

These strategies can help you establish boundaries between the different areas of your life, in order to give each one the attention it needs. Keep in mind that it’s also important to be able to adapt to new concerns and demands. You may feel stressed to a greater extent if you feel like you can’t make necessary adjustments to your plans.

Class scheduling and credit load.

Scheduling your college classes may stress you out. Trying to sign up for the courses at times that work well for you, and making sure you’re taking all your necessary prerequisite classes, are just a couple of the many factors that you need to consider.

For some students, this may be the first time they have to create their own schedules. You may not know how many credits you should be taking, or what class times are best for your academic performance. You might get frustrated with yourself after a few weeks of classes if your schedule is not what you hoped it would be.