Stress
Stress is unavoidable in day to day life and is generally harmless. However, being very stressed all the time can be problematic.
Stress may cause hyperventilation (where your breathing rate increases drastically) which can lead to a seizure.
Stress can also cause you to forget to take your medication.
If you are working and in school, you will probably find it hard to balance these with your social life.
Keep in mind that your health should be your top priority, and that you should plan your schedule to be most comfortable for you, both socially and emotionally.
What happens when individuals are unable to balance the different components of their lives?
We all experience stress throughout our lives, but most of us do not know how stress is caused scientifically. The following illustration shows the physical changes that occur.
Situation
You have a test tomorrow, but you haven't studied for it. You have been working after school everyday and on the weekends for the past two weeks. Today is your only day off from work, and you want to go out to a club with your friends.
Physical changes in your body- As you think more and more about the situation, you react to it and adrenaline is released in your body. Your heart and breathe rates accelerate.
- As this continues, sugars and fats which are stored in your body are released. Your body starts feeling tired and strained.
- Throughout this, energy is being burned and your body will try to replace it. If this continues, so much energy is used up in such a short time that your body cannot regenerate it fast enough.
The key to limiting stress depends on your thoughts about difficult situations. What you need to do is recognize that you must make changes in your life. You may complain that you have no time to handle work, school and still go out with friends, but complaining is no use if you don't do anything about it.
Here are a few suggestions.
- Pick out the things that cause the most anxiety.
- You don't have enough time to study for tests because of your part-time job.
- Change the way you deal with these stressors.
- Since you are usually aware of upcoming tests ahead of time, let your managers know that you will be unable to work, or at least not as much, during those days before your test.
- Don't leave things to the last minute.
- Don't wait until the day before your test to start looking over your notes. Understand that there are things in life that are beyond your control and come to terms with them.
- You need to understand that there will be days when things just don't go as planned. Don't take these days too seriously; remember that tomorrow is a whole new day.
- Talk to friends and family members about your stressors, even when they may not be able to help you.
- If your day at work was stressful, talk to your parents and friends about it.
- Exercise and participate in sports.
- Go to a gym for a few hours each week.
- Play basketball with friends or anything else that interests you.
Remember:
the goal is to increase your mental and physical well-being and decrease your stress.
- Take time for yourself.
- Read a book. Paint. Catch up on your favourite television shows, etc.
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