Stress

As a student, it can often be very difficult to juggle a wide variety of commitments.

No doubt, at some point during your student life, you will experience periods of pressure and stress.

Stress is a very difficult thing to explain, because people react and cope differently during periods of pressure and strain. Some people thrive on the adrenaline of being in demand,while others find themselves feeling trapped and weighed down, when they have several commitments at one time.

Especially during your final year of study and around exam/result periods, it is important not to bottle up your feelings. If stress is ignored, it can have negative effects upon your body, because you may attempt to blot out your problems with alcohol and drugs. However, your problems will still be there when you sober up.

Below are some symptoms of stress, which are followed by tips on how to prevent / overcome stress. This is not a comprehensive list, however, as stress can effect individuals in different ways:

Physical Symptoms:

• Headaches
• Constipation/diarrhoea
• Fatigue
• Loss of Appetite
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Feeling Faint
• Spells of Breathlessness

Emotional/Behavioural Symptoms:

• Feeling Irritable
• Forgetfulness
• Tearfulness
• Thinking that you can't cope
• Fear of disapproval/failure
• Unhappiness
• Disatisfaction
• Over-reacting
• Accident Prone
• Difficulty Concentrating/Making decisions
• Feeling Overwhelmed
  How to gain control:

1. Step back from your situation and view your problems from an outsider's point of view. This will allow you to make better, more informed decisions.

2. Make a list of your commitments and prioritise them. Write alongside each one how they can be dealt with. If something is out of your control, you must learn to not worry about it.

3. Remember stress is not a productive use of time and energy. It often creates more problems than it solves.

4. Take regular breaks from work, then, when you return to work, your mind will be refreshed. You should not allow too much time for breaks, however, be strict with yourself.

5. Ask yourself what is the worst that could happen?

6. Set yourself achieveable targets. Do not work to impossible standards, as you are setting yourself up to fail.

7. It may seem obvious, but allow enough time to get things done.. especially university work. Do not leave things to the last minute.

8. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Gain a good relationship with your personal tutors, so that you can approach them with problems.

9. Give yourself something to look forward to or aim towards.

10. Go for a walk to clear your head. Exercise is a great stress reliever.

11. Remember stress is caused from within and, therefore, your ability to deal with problems can be dealt with from within.

12. Avoid over-commiting yourself. Learn to say no, without feeling guilty.

13. At times of stress, take deep breaths to calm yourself down.

14. Learn to see the positive / funny side of your situation.

15. Plan ahead, especially when dealing with money.

16. There is a difference between taking on too much and avoiding doing what is necessary or what you have not done before. A little bit of anxiety every now and then is good for youand over-coming fears can bring a great sense of achievement. Do not live in denial: if something needs to be dealt with, do not put it off, as this will lead to increased problems further down the line.

When any symptoms of stress persist, you should seek professional help from a counsellor or a doctor.

If you feel you want to talk to someone, then there are trained and professional counsellors based in the University Support Services, Edinburgh Building (access through the Gateway), City Campus