Stress Factors

How to Deal With StressMany students go to school full time, and hold a part time job to earn money for school. Most students have about four classes, and each of the teacher's of these classes gives an average of about an hour of homework each night; that averages out to four hours per night of homework, plus a part time job. School causes a lot of students stress because there are so many things to do, and so little time to do it. Stress is a normal part of everyone's life; and is not a disease. It is not necessarily good or bad; however, reactions to stress can be harmful. Lack of time puts the stress on many students, and causes students to often procrastinate because they are constantly trying to meet deadlines and they don't have the time to work on their assignments. Many students feel their grades are important; they need plenty of time to work on their work so they can do good. I can relate to them because if I get a low grade I get disgusted because I put a lot of time and effort in doing that assignment. But I think that a lot of the stress from school is caused, not only by the teachers, but also from the students to do well. Students put too much stress on themselves. A student just has to learn to manage their time well and just do as good as possible. Stress management involves the effort of that student to make emotional and physical changes. The degree of stress and the desire to make the changes will determine the level of change that will take place. If a student wants to change the amount of stress in their life, they have to be willing to work and manage their time properly, even if it means sacrificing hours from a job or a night out with friends to study for a test or write a paper. Many students feel an increase in stress and anxiety when writing a paper, meeting a deadline, or studying for an exam. This can cause twitching, trembling, muscle tension, headaches, sweating, irritability, fatigue, and even dry mouth (Anxiety, Stress, and Tension). When talking about stress, there are many things that can influence a student. The five main topics that influence a student's well being are attitude, physical well being, physical activity, support systems, and relaxation (World Book on Health, 235). Attitude: The attitude of a student can influence whether a situation or emotion is stressful or not. A student with a negative attitude will often perceive many situations as being stressful, such as a simple two-page paper. A negative attitude is one of the main causes of stress, because a student with a negative attitude responds with more stress than a student with a more positive attitude. Physical well being: If the nutritional status of the student is poor, their body becomes stressed and the student is not able to respond to stressful situations. As a result, the student can be more susceptible to infections. A poor nutritional state can be related to unhealthy food choices, inadequate food intake, or an erratic eating schedule. A nutritionally unbalanced eating pattern can result in an inadequate intake of nutrients. Physical activity: Inadequate physical activity for a student can result in a stressful state for the body. Physical activity has many physiologic benefits. A consistent program of physical activity can contribute to a decrease in depression and stress, if it exists. It also improves the feeling of well being. Support systems: A minimal or total lack of support systems can be a sign of family problems or of social interaction in general. Social situations can be beyond the coping ability of a stressed student.Relaxation: When a student has no hobbies or means of relaxation, they may be unable to handle stressful situations because the individual has no outlet for stress. The student just constantly focuses on their schoolwork and nothing else. There are many ways to deal with stress management for students. All the ways deal with satisfying the needs of the five factors that influence a student's well being. The number one rule when dealing with stress is a student's physical well being and the attitude of that student. To start with, the student must think positive. Positive thinking not only decreases the stress level in the body, but it also acts as a confidence builder. That student must make an effort to stop negative thoughts and think more towards positive ones. This changes the total mindset of that student. Instead of thinking negative thoughts about a test, the student needs to focus on doing well instead. Rule number two for a student dealing with stress deals with physical activity. As far as physical activity goes, a student is encouraged to start an exercise program. Exercise is a major stress reliever. Exercising frequently is one of the best physical stress-reduction techniques available. Exercise not only improves health and reduces stress caused by unfitness, but it