SpartanSpectator

LP School Survival Guide: Stress and You

January 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Maria Anghelidis and Chloe Baptista

 

            Stress is unavoidable. We all experience some form of stress at some point in our lives, especially as students. With all the tests, projects, work, university applications, and relationships, we’re constantly bombarded with stress and most of us are not well-equipped to handle it. You know what the sad part is? It doesn’t get any better. If anything, it gets worse as we get older. Sorry if that’s not super optimistic, but to be completely honest stress isn’t completely optimistic, either. Which begs the question, what are we to do? Well, you can’t avoid stress (unless you choose to drop out of society completely) but you can certainly manage it.  

           To deal with it, we must first understand it; know thy enemy and all that jazz. What is stress, and what causes it? Well the textbook definition of stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. In layman’s terms, when we can’t cope with pressure- pressure that comes in all shapes and forms-we get stressed.  Stress is caused by two things: action, and reaction. First, you must consider the situation worthy of anxiety. For example, should you be worried about what colour socks you will wear tomorrow? Probably not, that has little-to-no real significance to your life. If you are worried about that, oh man, this article is not enough to help you. On the other hand, should you be worried about that upcoming math test? Probably, I don’t even know you, but probably (unless you’re not worried, in which case good on you).

            The second part is your body’s reaction to your thought processes. The instinctive response to unexpected events is fight or flight. Yes, your body reacts to stress the very same way it would react to confronting a giant, enraged elephant charging at you. Why is the elephant enraged, you might ask? We will never know. You can’t expect to react in an entirely rational way in these situations. Let’s just say, you’re not getting ready to think, you’re getting ready to either face your enemy or flee. Your body releases hormones to help it survive, hormones to help us run faster and fight harder. Our bodies are prepared to expend a lot of energy to prepare us for these situations- you breathe heavier, your heart’s beating faster, and oxygen and sugar are rushing to your muscles. This is all well and good when its life or death, however your body was not meant to react like this on a regular basis. Constantly mobilizing your body for survival has some negative consequences. It makes us excitable, nervous, jumpy, and irritable. This reduces our ability to work effectively. As well, we start to shut out information from other sources and cannot make balanced decisions. It can also get to the point where you just burnout completely. This entails exhaustion, anger, an overwhelming feeling of being constantly under attack, as well as a feeling of helplessness. This is the worst case scenario, though. Enough of scaring you, let’s look to how you deal with stress, starting with how you might be currently coping with stress- and why it’s bad for you.

            Many students don't know how to deal with the overwhelming stress of school and daily life. Why? Because we didn't have a class on it. So we try to cope the only ways we can, and most of them aren't healthy. Some people withdraw from loved ones and activities when stressed; focusing all of their energy on the very things they're worried about. A lot of us procrastinate and avoid our problems entirely. Some sleep too much, or not enough, or fill up every minute of their days with activities in order to avoid facing their problems. Probably one of the most dangerous ways we deal with stress is taking it out on others, which is when stress manifests into anger and aggression.

            So how can we cope with stress, if all we have are these faulty coping mechanisms? There are, of course, good ways to deal with stress. Here we've gathered the Top Six Ways to Cope with Stress in High School:

1. Start a Stress Journal

Sound ridiculous? It's not! A stress journal can help you discover what stresses you out on a regular basis. Every time you feel stressed, get it out by writing your feelings down on paper. Include things like: what caused the stress, what emotions you feel, how you acted differently due to the stress, and how you can make yourself feel better. This journal will help you see patterns and common themes of your stress.

2. The power of that magic word: "No."

It's important to know your own limits. You're stressed, you're busy, and you haven't even started to study for that test tomorrow. A friend asks for your help them with his/her French project. Will it annoy s/he if you say "no"? Probably. Will s/he get over it? Definitely. You barely have time for your own work, so don't add to your stress by taking more on your plate. Now, that doesn't just apply to school work. You know that party you really want to go to before the major science project is due? It's probably a good idea to say "no" to that too.

3. Avoid people who stress you out

Everyone has to admit to having at least one person in their lives who just stresses them out. All the time. Whether this person is your best friend, someone in your family, or even your worst enemy, you just can't seem to avoid them (or the stress they cause you). However, when you're worrying about a bunch of things, you don't need someone else in your life giving you more. So on those days where you feel overwhelmed, don't let them affect you. You need to take care of your own needs, even if one of those needs is avoiding a certain someone.

4. Focus on the positive

It's really easy to become overwhelmed with all the stress in your life. Whether it's at home or at school, negative things tend to weigh on your mind a lot more than the positive. So everyday, spend some time thinking of things you're thankful for. I know it's cheesy, but even if you just spend two minutes thinking about all the things you love in your life, the heavy, negative things won't weigh you down as much.

5. Accept the things you can't change

Let's face it. Even if you do all of the above, there will be some stressors in your life that are unavoidable. In some cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept the things you can't control. Many things that cause students stress can't be changed. Worried about how you did on a math test? You can't change it now, so instead of worrying about the past, focus on doing better in the future. Acceptance can be difficult, but it will help reduce your levels of stress in the long run.

6. Remember to relax and have fun

Finally, we come to the most important thing of all - taking time to rest, refuel, and hang with people you love. While trying to balance school, extracurricular activities, sports, and family events, students often forget to take time to relax. In fact, you should include chill time in your daily schedule. And don't forget to spend time with people you like to spend time with - friends are one of the most important tools you can use to de-stress.

 

 

The Stress Test

January 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Rameen Ahmed

 

            Stress in a high school student’s life is as inevitable as breathing. We don’t really get a choice regarding stress. It’s a natural response to events or circumstances affecting our mental health. Despite its negative implication, a healthy dose of stress can actually do more good than harm to our lives. Which end of the stress spectrum do you fall under? Take this quiz to find out!

 

1. How often do you find yourself resorting to unhealthy/unappealing habits (i.e.: binge eating, nail biting) to relieve yourself of tension?

       A: Almost always

       B: Occasionally

       C: Never

 

2. Do you take time out of your daily schedule to partake in activities for your own personal enjoyment?

       A: Rarely

       B: Sometimes

       C: Often

 

3. Do you maintain healthy balance between your social, school and personal life?

       A: No (lacking a social life)

       B: Yes

       C: No (not focused enough in terms of school)

 

4. Do you find yourself thinking about long term effects and risks so much that it keeps you from doing what you really want to do?

       A: All the time

       B: Only when it matters enough

       C: Never

 

5. What adjective best describes the amount of sleep you get?

       A: Scarce

       B: Regular

       C: Excessive

 

6. Have you ever felt the need to seek professional help regarding any stress related issues in your life (i.e.: anxiety, depression etc.)

       A: Yes, but didn’t feel the need to pursue it

       B: No, I haven’t reached a point where I needed a                 professional to resolve my personal issues

       C: Yes, and I sought out the help I needed

 

7. When dealing with a stressful situation, such as receiving a low grade on a test/assignment, what kind of approach seems like the type you would take on?

       A: Getting overwhelmed and having a break down

       B: Accepting the grade with the intention of improving

       C: Ignoring it and moving on

 

Mostly A’s: Too stressed

You are living as an extension of the stress you are facing in your everyday life. It’s unhealthy, and you should find a healthy/positive outlet to release some of that built up tension. Relax!

 

Mostly B’s/C’s: Healthily stressed

It is fairly likely that you have succeeded in reaching a perpetual state of balance between calmness and a healthy amount of stress. Keep doing whatever you have done so far, because it is obviously working.

 

Mostly C’s: Get stressed

Obviously you need to “un-relax”. There is such a thing as being too carefree. Do whatever you can to incorporate some sort of structure in your life.

 

For more information, contact Ontario’s toll-free mental health hotline at:  1-(866) 531-2600

or visit http://www.mentalhealthhelpline.ca/