Stress and anxiety inevitably play a role in our lives at one time or another. We
feel stressed when the demands on our life are not met with equally effective coping
strategies.
General Information on Anxiety
Occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. Anxiety is hardwired into our brains.
It is part of the body's fight-or-flight response, which prepares us to act quickly
in the face of danger. It is a normal response to uncertainty, trouble, or feeling
unprepared. You might feel anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking
a test, or before making an important decision. But anxiety disorders involve more
than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does
not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities
such as job performance, school work, and relationships.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States affecting approximately 40 million adults every year. In 2018,
anxiety and depression were the two top concerns of college students seeking mental
health services, specifically 18.9% of college students reported they had experienced overwhelming anxiety within the
last year.
Stress may be beneficial to us in small doses such as acting as a motivator for accomplishing
goals. However, too much stress can become overwhelming and affect your physical and
mental well-being. Recurrent physical and psychological stress may cause diminished self-esteem, decrease
interpersonal and academic effectiveness, and create a cycle of self-blame and self-doubt.
Stress affects each of us in different ways. It is important to be aware of your unique
stressors and how stress manifest for you.
Common Stressors
Academic demands
Managing relationships
Coping with social anxieties
Making career choices
Financial issues
Personal growth worries
Managing overall wellness
How to better manage stress and anxiety
Below are some strategies to help you assess, prioritize and manage stress. College
is an ongoing challenge. To be successful you must accept change, develop a support
system and most importantly: believe in yourself!
Assess your priorities — Determine what should require the most energy and what should not. Organize your
day according to activity priority.
Find your weakness — Do not leave planning for stressful situations to the last minute. Visualize the
event, recognize points of stress, plan accordingly, and get it done.
Adjust expectations— Base your expectation in reality! High levels of stress and anxiety are more likely
to occur if you feel the need to perform perfectly, behave like someone you are not,
or are inflexible with your priorities.
Stay healthy– Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and relaxation can decrease your blood pressure,
strengthen muscles and reduce stress and anxiety.
Many of us have excellent coping strategies in some areas, but may lack adequate resources
in others. Fortunately, we’ve compiled quite a few resources to help you manage these
anxieties.
