Sounds of Stress

Sometimes just hearing the words anxiety and stress can cause a feeling of unpleasantness.  Stress and anxiety are part of life.  They are built in to the human condition.  For college students, though there are some important factors and areas of their lives that are often the source of anxiousness and stress.  Family dynamics, finances, romantic relationships and educational hurdles are some of the most common ones.  Final exams are an example of something that is almost designed to trigger some anxiousness and stress. 

Data shows that approximately two thirds of people 18-34 experience moderate stress while nearly a third deal with severe stress.  It is important to note that stress is not restricted to only to being a negative experience. Eustress is the type of stress associated with positive and fulfilling activities and events (like finishing the semester).

While distress and anxiety are to some degree unavoidable in our lives, there are some strategies, techniques and even plain old common sense that can make managing those feelings easier. 

Regular sleep is important.  Just as stress can wear down our physical immune system it can also take a toll on our ability to focus, think logically and experience a healthy range of emotions.  Simple patterns like going to bed and the same time every night regardless of how tired you feel and doing the same for waking up can make a significant difference.

Meditating and doing deep breathing can help soothe feelings of panic.  Regular exercise, even if it is low impact can do a lot to build up depleted emotional reservoirs.  Lastly, many people find that having someone to talk to who knows how to listen, like a therapist, to be very beneficial in managing stress and anxiety.

So, while there is no magical key to eliminating all stress and anxiety from your life, there are interventions that can help you manage it better.