Most individuals regard the college experience as some of the best years of their lives. However, along with all of this learning and fun, there comes a good amount of stress. Here is more information about how stress manifests itself in the life of a college student and what you can do to manage it.
What is Stress?
Stress is defined as a physical reaction to your emotions and the events around you. Stress can be either healthy or damaging, depending on the external influences and how your body processes and reacts to these emotions. As the body processes these stress triggers, the hormone cortisol is released, signaling the fight-or-flight response. The high standard of academics combined with social and financial pressures can make college students particularly prone to excessive stress.
The Effects of Stress:
The effects of excessive stress vary widely between individuals because not everyone reacts in the same way to these stressors. Sometimes you may not even recognize that your body is reacting adversely to the stress. Physical signs to look out for include unexplained sweating, increased blood pressure and heart rate, headaches, stomach issues, and unordinary fatigue. Too much stress may also manifest itself as muscle tension, particularly focused on the neck and shoulders area.
If you are having problems managing your stress levels in college, you may also notice that you are experiencing difficulties concentrating in class and getting your work done. Additionally, too much stress may leave you feeling helpless or lonely. These emotions may lead to hostility and irritability, greatly affecting your social relationships. A change in behavioral patterns is another sign of too much stress. Turning to alcohol or drugs to ease the stress is not healthy and should be avoided.
How to Manage Stress:
It is important to remember that some level of stress is healthy and normal. Recognizing the causes of stress in your life and taking steps to minimize them can go a long way in helping you to have a successful college career. The cornerstone of managing stress levels is to make sure that you get enough sleep each night. Going on all-night party benders or pulling an all-nighter to study will only mess with your natural sleeping patterns. You should also be mindful of nourishing your body with nutritious foods. In addition, regular exercise is a powerful tool in your fight to combat stress. Simply working up a sweat releases feel-good endorphins that will give you a mental and emotional boost.
Taking a supplement such as cbdMD gummies will preserve your wellness and help deal with everyday stress that comes your way. You should also be intentional about setting realistic expectations, taking the time for self-care, and finding outlets for your stress. If left unaddressed, excessive stress can cause a myriad of problems for college students. Being proactive about dealing with stress in healthy ways will pay big dividends for both your physical and mental well-being.
