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Outline

Anxiety And Stress Management What we’ll cover What is stress? What causes stress? Strategies to reduce stress Strategies for dealing with stress

What is stress? Stress is the way that you react physically, mentally and emotionally to various conditions, changes and demands in your life. Many students experience varying levels of stress each semester. High levels of stress can affect your physical and mental well-being and academic performance.

Symptoms of stress headaches nervous stomach change in appetite rapid breathing rapid heart rate sweaty palms irritability anxiety

Exercise: Reflect on a stressful situation Write a brief description of a recent situation that caused you stress. Summarize your mental, emotional and physical states at the time.

What causes stress? Anxiety: uneasiness and distress about future uncertainties

What causes stress? Changes in life’s expectations or demands Ex. Marriage, divorce, pregnancy, illness, bills, increasing demands of a university course load

What causes stress? Disorganization: feeling unprepared and powerless

What causes stress? Physical Constraints Ex. Physical exhaustion, lack of good exercise and diet strategies

What causes stress? Time constraints: multiple projects and deadlines

Exercise: Self-assessment Take the anxiety/stress assessment Use the results of this assessment to pinpoint specific causes of stress in your life. What (if any) control do you have over these areas of your life? Make a list of things that you can do to lessen your stress.

Strategies to reduce stress Take control. Manage your time instead of letting it manage you. Use a to-do list, follow a written plan, set goals and follow through. Avoid procrastination, a major cause of stress. Make a realistic list of things you need to do each day. Do the most important things first. That way, even if you don’t finish the list, you get the most important things done.

Strategies to reduce stress Take a break Sometimes it is better to get away from the situation for a short time. Take a brisk walk, focus on pleasant thoughts. Then, go back to the task feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever it is you have to do.

Strategies to reduce stress Work on your attitude Put things into perspective. Do not to take yourself too seriously. Think positive.  “If you think you will fail, or think you will succeed, you are probably right.”    --Henry Ford

Strategies to reduce stress Get help See your instructor, go to tutoring, and participate in study groups.  See how to form a study group. Keep in touch with friends and family, and develop a support group.

Strategies to reduce stress Physical stress busters Eat right, exercise regularly and get plenty of rest

Strategies to reduce stress Practice, practice, practice Build your confidence: do extra math problems, practice test-taking at home, rehearse your speech a couple of times before the presentation

Self-reflection Go back to the stressful incident that you described in the first part of the workshop. List some strategies for dealing with the situation, List  some things you could have done to prevent it from being stressful. List some ways you can avoid a reoccurrence of such a situation in the future.

Strategies for dealing with stress No one can avoid stress all the time. In a stressful situation, try these tips to help you overcome the effects of stress.

Strategies for dealing with stress Join the crowd Even though you may think you are the only person in the world who is experiencing stress, the fact is that everyone experiences it sometime.

Strategies for dealing with stress Talk to someone Find someone you trust, discuss the problems and look for solutions

Strategies for dealing with stress Put it in perspective Chances are, this is only one small part of the rest of your life

Strategies for dealing with stress Visualize Sit comfortably and think of a favorite place. Imagine yourself in a successful situation.

Strategies for dealing with stress Breathe Sit quietly, and breathe deeply and slowly. Continue for five or six breaths. It is calming and the extra dose of oxygen increases the brain’s thinking ability.

Strategies for dealing with stress It’s all in your head... and shoulders Roll your head loosely in a wide circle. Repeat five times. Tighten right shoulder and raise it as far up as possible and hold, then relax slowly. Repeat with left shoulder. Repeat with both shoulders.

Strategies for dealing with stress Go on a diet Eating light and avoiding sugars can help with performance and lessen stress. In a stressful situation like an exam, have a light meal of mostly protein. Remember, a heavy high carbohydrate meal can put you to sleep.

Strategies for dealing with stress Lighten up Take responsibility for your feelings. When you get angry, take a break and cool down before you act.

Strategies for dealing with stress Use it A little stress is a good thing. Athletes use it to increase performance. If you are experiencing a small amount of anxiety, it can help to keep you active and alert. Use it to increase your performance.

Summary Stress is mental, emotional and physical tension, strain, and/or distress The signs of stress are classic. You may get a headache, stiff neck, backache, become irritable, lose your temper, and you may feel exhausted and find it hard to concentrate. When these symptoms appear, recognize them as signs of stress and find a way to deal with them. Just knowing why you’re feeling the way that you are may be the first step in coping with the problem.

Apply what you’ve learned Write about a situation where you would normally experience a high level of stress, (i.e. taking a test, giving a presentation, etc). Is the stress a bad thing? Can it be used to increase your performance?  How would you do this? What coping strategies can you use to help you deal with the situation?