People Are Complex and Cannot Be Completely Understood Through the Lens of a Meta or Grand Theory. Discuss

You are a newly appointed counsellor at a University and you have been given the responsibility of providing a report on the stresses of being a student. Your answer, based on the content of the course, should include: a) The sources of student stress; b) The possible effects of student stress; c) Individual coping strategies; d) Possible institutional interventions that might make the student’s role a happy one! You should make reference to relevant literature.

Course: BA (Honours) Psychology
Module Title: Health Psychology
Module Code: PSY383
Lecturer’s Name: Dr. Garry Prentice
Date Assignment given out: 30th September 2010
Latest date for Submission: 26th November 2010
Student Name:
Student Number:
Introduction

Within this essay I hope to report on the stress levels that students have to deal with. I will discuss the reasons why students find themselves under these levels of stress and what effects stress can have on a student both mentally and physically. I shall also discuss possible methods which would aid and assist a student who finds themselves under stress and possible ways to elevate the stress and assist the student in feeling more relaxed and dealing with any pressure they might find themselves having to deal with.

Main Body

Stress is a physical response to events that can make a person feel threatened or even upset your balance in some way. When you perceive a threat to yourself, your body and nervous system responds to this threat by releasing stress hormones. Your heart begins to beat a lot faster, your blood pressure tends to rise and your muscles can at times even begin to tighten.

Everybody will at some stage of their life experience stress of some level. You might feel under pressure, worried, upset, tense or a general feeling of just being uncomfortable with life at any particular moment. As a student there are numerous reasons why one would feel under a lot of stress. Pressure of exams is usually a major factor of

References: Blumental, S. & Kupfer, D, J. (1990). Suicide Over The Life Cycle. New York: American Psychiatric Press. Coon, D., & Mitterer, J. (2008). Introduction To Psychology. New York: Cengage Learning Inc. Cotton, D., H. (1990). Stress Management, An Integrated Approach To Therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel Inc. Greener, M. (1996). The Which Guide To Managing stress. London: The Penguin Group. Herbert, C., & Wetmore, A. (1993). Overcoming Traumatic Stress. London: Robinson. Humphrey, J., H. (2003). New York. Nova Publishers. Palmer, S., & Dryden, W. (1995). Counselling For Stress Problems. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Taylor, S. E. (2009). Health Psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill. Brain Stress (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2010, from http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/stress About Stress (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2010, from http://wwwstress.about.com/student