I'm+STRESSING+my+BRAINS+OUT!!!

The Monster of Stress & __//WHY//__ it's important to understand in college students:
Stress is defined as an overwhelming state of mental or emotional strain. Stress is the direct result from adverse or demanding circumstances, and is seen in the li  ves of many people on a daily basis. Due to this condition, stress has become //a way of life,// and and inevitable factor in our daily routines. Stress is a duo-faceted physical response to the nature of a situation, which typically means that stress has it (pros) and negative (cons) sides.

Basically the positive side of stress allows one to optimally perform under constant pressure, with the key of motivation to put forth their best efforts in order to maximize the success of a result. The negative side of stress causes one to feel as if they were constantly running in emergency mode, and therefore affecting the mental and physical state of an individual. This type of negative stress for example, is prominent in individuals like college students because they are adapting and adjusting to a new environment, level of independence, work load, and responsibilities. Finding a balance in knowing how to identify its signs and symptoms can reduce the byproducts of anxiety, fear, panic attacks, or over exaggerated behaviors associated with stress. These symptoms explain the "flight or fight" response because when stress upsets our balance, our bodies automatically kick into high gear, firing us up and //stressing// us out.

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 * __Common Events Stressful to College Students:__**
 * 1) Exams [[image:how-to-study-effectively-for-exams.png width="80" height="104"]][[image:summer-classroom-003-2-1.jpg width="137" height="103"]][[image:engaged-brains/moran_and_thad.jpg width="173" height="104"]][[image:peer-pressure2.gif width="114" height="114"]][[image:Path-to-Success-300x220.jpg width="141" height="112"]][[image:facebook problems in relationships.jpg width="136" height="108"]]
 * 2) Classes
 * 3) Sports
 * 4) Work
 * 5) Finances
 * 6) Dating
 * 7) Family
 * 8) Goals
 * 9) Expectations
 * 10) Peer Pressure
 * 11) Responsibilities
 * __Common Stressors:__**
 * Greater Academic Demands
 * Being on your own in a new environment and with new responsibilities
 * Changes in family relationships and in one's social life
 * Financial responsibilities
 * Exposure to new people, ideas, and temptations
 * Making decisions on a higher level
 * Substance abuse
 * Questioning of one's sexual identity/orientation
 * Life preparation after graduation
 * Psychological well-being

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 * __Overall Problems:__**
 * **__Procrastination__**
 * **__Ambition Overdrive__**
 * **__Time Management__**
 * **__Prioritization__**

***Such physical changes increases one's strength and stamina, speeds one's reaction time, and sharpens one's focus to generate the decision in a fight or flight response***
 * __THE MECHANISM OF STRESS:__**
 * "EMERGENCY" State-of-Mind Physical Changes:**
 * ====Increased heart rate====
 * Raised blood pressure level
 * Hyperventilation (fatally sustained quick-shortened breaths)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Sharpened senses (vision, sound, smell, taste, touch reactions)

=The "DRIVING" Stress Analogy:= Developed by Psychologist Connie Lillas


 * Three most common ways people respond to overwhelming stress:**
 * 1) __**Foot on Gas**-__ A type of furious or agitated response that causes one's body temperature to rise, become overly emotional, and unable to maintain civilized composure.
 * Example : The feeling of doing well after an exam and upon getting the exam back, realizing that you did way worse than you thought. Your inside begins to fire up, and many emotions and potential swear words run through your thoughts. You storm out of class, and the rest of your day is ruined. You feel like kicking everything in sight, and are cantankerous the remainder of the day.
 * 1) __**Foot on Break-**__ A type of withdrawn or depressed response that causes one to shut down, space out, and display stolid or apathetic behavior.
 * Example : The feeling of being homesick after being away from home too long. Even if there are opportunities to keep you distracted, or instances to go out and socialize, you tend to either turn them down or have a distracted state of mind that hinders your ability to enjoy life. You feel alone, and want to keep to yourself for a period of time.
 * 1) __**Foot on Both**__- A type of tense or frozen response that causes one to freeze under pressure and malfunction while feeling agitated inside at the same time.



__** External: **__
 * __Some Causes of Stress Particular to College Students__**
 * Major life change
 * Work
 * Relationship difficulties
 * Financial problems
 * Overly busy
 * Children and family related

__ **Internal:** __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__**Part of Brain affected:**__ When the body senses danger, it goes into stress mode and immediate nerve signals activate the pituitary glands located on the top of our kidneys. This triggers the release of a stress hormone called adrenaline, which results in the typical flight or fight response (visceral activity of heart rate and temperature increase). The Hypothalamus senses this activity taking place, and activates the pituitary gland at the bottom of our brains through signaling. This activation will cause the adrenal cortex to produce more stress hormones, and allow the episode of "stress to take place".
 * Inability to accept uncertainty
 * Pessimism
 * Negative self-talk (Body image, not being good enough, not fitting in with social norms)
 * Unrealistic expectations (Demanding a 4.0+ GPA; Not accepting of a B)
 * Perfectionism (Spending so much time on a project)
 * Lack of assertiveness

= =

//__**SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS OVERLOAD:**__//

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">( ////<span style="color: #e54848; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">C <span style="color: #ed0808; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">ognitive <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">& <span style="color: #0e17c8; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">E <span style="color: #0013ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">motional <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">) // (Affects frontal lobe ) ||= Inability to relax ||
 * = __** Cognitive **__ ||= __** Emotional **__ ||
 * = Memory difficulty ||= Melodramatic behavior ||
 * = Distractedness ||= Bi-polar like behavior ||
 * = Irrational judgement
 * = Negative outlook ||= Overwhelmed feeling ||
 * = Agitated, nervous thoughts ||= Sense of isolation ||
 * = Consistent worrying ||= Overall unhappiness ||

//( **Physical** **& Behavioral **)// drugs, or cigarettes to relax || pacing, leg shaking, etc.) ||
 * = __** Physical **__ ||= __** Behavioral **__ ||
 * = Body aches and pain ||= Over eating or loss of appetite ||
 * = Diarrhea or constipation ||= Oversleeping or lack of sleep ||
 * = Nausea or dizziness ||= Antisocial ||
 * = Chest pain or rapid heart beat ||= Negligent of responsibilities (apathy) ||
 * = Frequent colds ||= Resorting to the use of alcohol,
 * = Loss of sex drive "libido " ||= Nervous habits (nail biting,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__Influence on stress tolerance levels__

 * ==<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Support network ==
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Family, friends, and pets are proven therapeutic as an enormous buffer against life stressors. The more lonely and isolated one is, the more time one has to think and dwell upon the stressful situations that exist within and around them.
 * ==<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Sense of control ==
 * Confidence is key to conquering tough situations and influential events surrounding peer and environmental pressure. People vulnerable to stress tend to feel out of control for certain stressful events.
 * ==<span style="color: #5b08ce; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Attitude and Outlook <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> "Attitude determines Altitude" ==
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">If one has an optimistic demeanor towards stressful situations in life, they are more likely to embrace challenge in a positive manner and the determination to succeed past the factor of stress.
 * ==<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Ability to deal with one's emotions ==
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Defines one's ability to bring their emotions into balance and bounce back from adversity. Otherwise, one would be extremely vulnerable to stress not knowing how to place them under control and likewise, feel sad, angry, and depressed.
 * ==<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Knowledge and preparation ==
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Knowing your body's own and sign and symptoms when entering the stress phase will help ease with preparation and coping abilities despite the nature and severity of a situation they may be going through.

__Health Problems Associated with Stress:__

 * 1) General pain
 * 2) Heart Disease
 * 3) Indigestion/Digestive Problems (Ulcers)
 * 4) Sleep disorders, insomnia, sleep paralysis
 * 5) Depression (feeling of helplessness)
 * 6) Obesity (from turning to food as a comfort stimulus)
 * 7) Autoimmune sickness (lack of sleep, eating/sleep disorders, mental state declines one's immune system)


 * __S__****__TATISTICS ON STRESS IN COLLEGE STUDEN__**__**T:**__

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Dealing/coping mechanisms on stress (re-capped from above): **
> OTHER STATISTICS SURROUNDING STRESS: > -According to an MSN article from the Associated Press and college TV station mtvU. > -2005 National College Health Association (NCHA) surveyed 17,000 college students: >> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//Academics:// >> >> //Social & Personal Life://
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MANAGE: Take charge of your thoughts, emotions, schedule, and your environment. Organize agenda and create a "block schedule". Possibly eliminate unnecessary events from your agenda.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">RELAX: Yoga, mediation, and deep breathing to activate the body's relaxation systems. Get enough rest to increase your REM sleep and regulate your body's circadian rhythm!
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">REDIRECT: Take a break! Find something of interest to you and enjoy life for a bit. Sports, physical activity, social gatherings, and personal interests will help you to redirect your stress into something more positive and influence the way you handle stressful situations. Therefore, you don't mire in unsuccessful business in dealing with stress.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">REFOCUS: Once you manage, relax, and redirect your stress, it is time to refocus on something greater and return to your original business with a more clear and tranquil mindset.
 * 4 in 10 college students often felt stressed, 1 in 4 felt stress daily, 1/5 stressed most of the time, and 1/10 felt like committing suicide to to the effects of depression
 * 1. 25% felt so depressed that it was difficult to function
 * 2. 21 % felt the need to commit suicide as a result
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Things that COE COLLEGE does to help alleviate stress:__**
 * 1) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dog Therapy Day- Provided by career services during Finals Week
 * 2) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Academic Achievement Program: helps students struggling in academics/provides better environment for test taking
 * 3) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tutoring & Supplemental Instruction Session: extended study sessions by TA's & Tutor
 * 1) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Coe Adjustment Peers (CAP) leaders
 * 2) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Resident Assistants
 * 3) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Confidential Staff Resources (Nurse Practitioner, Chaplain, Multicultural Affairs Director)
 * 4) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">St. Lukes private counseling
 * 5) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Student Activities Committee Events

__Websites-__ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpQrMqDoqE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2GywoS77qc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQeDYBS63lY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpy_rAWSWkA Article- http://www.uic.edu/depts/wellctr/docs/Stress%20and%20the%20College%20Student.pdf
 * Resources:**

__Works Cited:__ __ Smith, M. (2007, April 16). //The effects of stress overload and what you can do about it.// http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm __ __MedicalNewsToday(2009, April 11). What Is Stress? How To Deal With It, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145855.php__ __MayoClinic(2013, July 13). Stress symptoms: Effects on Your Body and Behavior. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-symptoms/SR00008_D__ __Lewin, Tamar. (2011, January 26). Record Level of Stress Found in College Students. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/education/27colleges.html__ __Associated Press. (2008, March 18). 1 in 5 Undergrads is Constantly Stressed. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23693229/#.Upr7FM1MbFg__ __Hardy, Marcelina. (2006, September 27). Statistics on College Student Stress. http://www,stress.lovetoknow.com/Statistics_On_College_Student_Stress__