Epidemiology Of Stress Essay
Stress is the human body’s way of reacting to any form of a threat. When your body feels threatened, the nervous system responds to this by releasing stress hormones which prepare the body for any sort of emergency situation. Your heart rate increases, muscles begin to tighten, blood pressure heightens, breath quickens, and senses sharpen. These physical changes increase your strength and stamina, speed your reaction time, and enhance your focus.
When at an ideal level, stress helps you to stay focused, energetic, and alert.
Stress can also help you rise to meet challenges. Stress is what keeps you on your toes during presentations or what drives you to study for examinations or tests when you would much rather be watching television.
Although beyond healthy, stress stops being helpful and can start causing damage to your mind and body. …show more content…
Researchers in the field of psychoneuroimmunology study the ways in which the nervous and immune system interact with each other and affect people's mental health and emotional being.
Psychoneuroimmunology research suggests that chronic stress can lead to unwanted mood disorders like anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder, change in personality, as well as some behavioural issues.
Perceptive Symptoms
• Memory problems
• Concentration problems
• Poor judgment
• Being pessimistic
• Anxious thoughts
• Constant worrying
Mental Symptoms
• Moodiness
• Irritability or short temper
• Agitation, inability to relax
• Feeling of being overwhelmed
• Feeling lonely and isolated
• Depression
•
Physical Symptoms
• Body aches and pains
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
• Frequent colds
This table lists the common signs and symptoms of stress.
Behavioural Symptoms
• Loss of appetite
• Change in sleeping patterns
• Isolation
• Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
• Nervous
habits
Manage your stress
Your stress levels will be significantly less if you are aware of how the path to the exam will go, so plan when and where your study sessions will take place, and place the timetable where you will see it often, such as your room wall or computer desktop. Make sure it is broken down to manageable segments and work through it at a reasonable pace. This isn’t the most “fun” method, but it is certainly better than being stressed out.
Relieve some of the pressure
In order to not be taken by surprise, realistically asses how you expect the exam or test to go, and working to do the best you can. It is often other people’s expectations that cause unnecessary pressure, talk to them about it and explain how you are feeling. If you yourself are putting too much pressure on yourself, try to understand that not reaching your goals isn't fatal.
Seek help from your peers
Other students are studying for the same exam as well, and they probably don't enjoy isolating themselves during their study sessions either. Gather with them and meet at a neutral location on occasion. If you have certain weaknesses, it may help to talk about it to another student. If you are good at it, share the brain-wealth.
Control your substance consumption
Try to avoid caffeinated substances, tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, Ritalin and any other drugs. Most drugs that you think will help you in your studies are actually a short-term solution that will most probably cause you to feel much worse and underperform later.
Get enough sleep and healthy food
It's very important to look after your physical health whilst studying for exams. Make sure you are taking regular breaks to eat meals and try to set aside half an hour a day to do some exercise, even if it's just a light walk. Having enough sleep is also very important. The amount of sleep individuals need differ from person to person, so try to self asses yourself.
Have multiple options
Be sure to not set all of your hopes on one specific outcome. Have multiple options, and realise that if your heart is set on one thing that there will always be other paths to it.
When at an ideal level, stress helps you to stay focused, energetic, and alert.
Stress can also help you rise to meet challenges. Stress is what keeps you on your toes during presentations or what drives you to study for examinations or tests when you would much rather be watching television.
Although beyond healthy, stress stops being helpful and can start causing damage to your mind and body. …show more content…
Researchers in the field of psychoneuroimmunology study the ways in which the nervous and immune system interact with each other and affect people's mental health and emotional being.
Psychoneuroimmunology research suggests that chronic stress can lead to unwanted mood disorders like anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder, change in personality, as well as some behavioural issues.
Perceptive Symptoms
• Memory problems
• Concentration problems
• Poor judgment
• Being pessimistic
• Anxious thoughts
• Constant worrying
Mental Symptoms
• Moodiness
• Irritability or short temper
• Agitation, inability to relax
• Feeling of being overwhelmed
• Feeling lonely and isolated
• Depression
•
Physical Symptoms
• Body aches and pains
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
• Frequent colds
This table lists the common signs and symptoms of stress.
Behavioural Symptoms
• Loss of appetite
• Change in sleeping patterns
• Isolation
• Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
• Nervous
habits
Manage your stress
Your stress levels will be significantly less if you are aware of how the path to the exam will go, so plan when and where your study sessions will take place, and place the timetable where you will see it often, such as your room wall or computer desktop. Make sure it is broken down to manageable segments and work through it at a reasonable pace. This isn’t the most “fun” method, but it is certainly better than being stressed out.
Relieve some of the pressure
In order to not be taken by surprise, realistically asses how you expect the exam or test to go, and working to do the best you can. It is often other people’s expectations that cause unnecessary pressure, talk to them about it and explain how you are feeling. If you yourself are putting too much pressure on yourself, try to understand that not reaching your goals isn't fatal.
Seek help from your peers
Other students are studying for the same exam as well, and they probably don't enjoy isolating themselves during their study sessions either. Gather with them and meet at a neutral location on occasion. If you have certain weaknesses, it may help to talk about it to another student. If you are good at it, share the brain-wealth.
Control your substance consumption
Try to avoid caffeinated substances, tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, Ritalin and any other drugs. Most drugs that you think will help you in your studies are actually a short-term solution that will most probably cause you to feel much worse and underperform later.
Get enough sleep and healthy food
It's very important to look after your physical health whilst studying for exams. Make sure you are taking regular breaks to eat meals and try to set aside half an hour a day to do some exercise, even if it's just a light walk. Having enough sleep is also very important. The amount of sleep individuals need differ from person to person, so try to self asses yourself.
Have multiple options
Be sure to not set all of your hopes on one specific outcome. Have multiple options, and realise that if your heart is set on one thing that there will always be other paths to it.