Is Stress Good for the Mind and Body?
Photo by Lily Dettle

Is Stress Good for the Mind and Body?

Stress can be synonymous with the final weeks of college.

Many students have upcoming deadlines for papers, projects and of course studying for finals on top of other commitments. Being a college student requires enduring a significant amount of stress, especially during the end of semester.

Stress has been linked to many diseases and changes in physiological functions.

According to American Psychological Association about 25 percent of Americans are experiencing high levels of stress, while another 50 percent report moderate levels of stress.

Stress is frequently referred to as a “flight-or-fight” response because it has allowed us to evolve, helping us gather information from our surroundings helping us react quickly to life-threatening situations.

Final exams may make us feel like life is ending, but science disagrees. In fact, some stress can actually be beneficial.

Stress can give that extra burst of energy to help you meet daily challenges and motivate you to get that extra hour of studying in before your final exam. Some experts have mentioned that stress can boost one’s memory and strengthen their immune system.

Chronic amounts of stress can significantly weaken the immune system, causing various diseases. Stress has also been linked to high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety and cardiovascular disease.

Some students give insight on how they cope with stress.

“I do sports and I hang out with my friends, which is pretty common I think. However, sometimes I also do woodwork which is more unusual I think,” said Nicolas Deboos, junior web and digital media development major.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have great suggestions for how to cope with stress in a healthy manner. Foremost, be sure to take care of yourself by eating well-balanced meals, exercising daily and getting a good night’s sleep.

“I won’t use my phone, computer or do any homework while I’m eating meals so that I force myself to take that break,” said Katelyn Piepmeier, sophomore dance and business administration major.

These suggestions may be difficult to achieve during the last few weeks of college, but making an effort goes a long way. Taking frequent breaks while studying and enjoying some quality time with friends and family helps to significantly relieve stress.

“Well, usually what helps my anxiety are tasks that absorb my attention. Mostly creating things or putting things together,” said Alan Bustamante, a fith year student and international studies and history major. “I love the ability to turn my entire body into a process of creating something whether it’s music, drawings, writing, constructing things or just cleaning. I need a lot of music and work space with things that comfort me like candles or fragrance scented thingies.”

Riddhi Gandhi

Reporter

Riddhi.B.Gandhi@uwsp.edu

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