STRESS MANAGEMENT

• RECOGNIZE STRESS

According to the supervisor of the Learning Center University of St. Thomas, Joseph Landsberger, stress symptoms include:

                                                              i.      Exhaustion (feeling of tiredness)

                                                             ii.      Change in appetite (loss or increase)

                                                           iii.      Headaches

                                                          iv.      Crying

                                                            v.      Sleep disorder (sleeplessness or oversleeping)

                                                          vi.      Inclination to use ALCOHOL or DRUGS

                                                         vii.      MOOD CHANGES/SWINGS (alarm, frustration, lack of emotion or feeling).

• MANAGING STRESS

Firstly, see your counselor.  Secondly, consider the following:

                                                             I.      CONTROL:  Do you have control over the situation?  If you do, begin thinking logically about possible solutions.

                                                           II.      REMOVE YOURSELF:  Remove yourself from the stressful situation.  If complete withdrawal is not possible, take breaks as regularly as you have to.

                                                        III.      PRIORITIZE:  Decide what your MAIN GOALS are.  Then, determine which situations or actions help you achieve these goals.  Prioritize those situations and actions higher than everything else.  Consider deleting unimportant (stress causing) situations and actions from your schedule.

                                                         IV.      BE CALM: Handle situations logically and calmly.  If a situation can not be reversed or helped, logic suggests that you do NOT worry about it.  According to Y! Health, anxiety leads to numerous health problems.

                                                           V.      AVOID EXTREME REACTIONS:  When you feel stressed, be extra careful about what you say to others, and how you say it.  Be aware that you may direct unnecessary harshness towards the wrong people.

                                                         VI.      SLEEP:  According to Y! Health, “Teenagers need about 9 hours of sleep on average.”  Adults, 7 to 8 hours is ideal.  Getting too little sleep creates a "sleep debt," which causes our judgment, reaction time, and other functions are still impaired.  Therefore, lack of sleep degrades your ability to study and function well.

                                                      VII.      DRUGS: Do not resort to alcohol or drugs.  According to About.com, “Stress often leads to abuse of alcohol, drugs, or other substances as an attempt to self-medicate.  Masking the problem with stimulants can not help.

                                                    VIII.      RELAX: Learn to relax.  Appreciate the benefits of simple relaxation.  Uncommon-knowledge.co.uk explains that “Relaxation gives a 'break' from things and lowers activity within the limbic system of the brain, the emotional centre.”