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Strategies for
Coping With Stress

The following list, received from the TCU Counseling Center, presents a few strategies an individual can use in coping with stress.

1. Maintain nutritional needs. Eat a balanced diet and get sufficient physical rest. The needs of the body must be maintained for healthful living. When someone is feeling well physically, stress can be coped with more readily and more economically.

2. Employ constructive time management procedures. Plan the day’s activities. Construct a plan for the week. Scheduling in the present for what needs to be done in the future helps individuals to “stay on top” of work and play.

3. Exercise regularly. The benefits of physical exercise are well documented. A planned and implemented physical exercise program constitutes one of the most effective means for managing tension and coping with stress. Exercise is an excellent preventative.

4. Be progressive in activities. After doing as much as possible about a possible stress situation, move on to other activities. If necessary, consciously block thoughts about the stress situation. Become immerse in other activity.

5. Save and use alone time. It can be very helpful in the management of tension. Use the time for reflection, for single person activity or for just doing nothing.

6. Be assertive. Much stress occurs and lingers because people react to tension in a passive or aggressive way. Learning to clearly express thoughts and feelings without violating the rights and needs of others can lead to positive self feelings and lessened pressure to meet expectations of others.

7. Develop a social support system. Give and receive love. Friends are necessary.

8. Select and participate in a volunteer program. Get involved in services for others in an organized program.

9. Remember that growth involves risk. Living does involve risk taking. Change is inevitable but growth does not come automatically, withouteffort or without some risk.


Source: Jack C. Scott

 

Wednesday, August 29, 2001

It’s raining stress
Studies, activities can be balanced to avoid overload
Story by Monique Bhimani • Illustration by J. Kent Ladewig

For some, stress drives students to work harder. The more that is thrown at them, the more they crave. But for other students, balancing time is an art to be mastered.Entering campus organizations is beneficial to students because organizations can offer more opportunities and expertise to benefit future careers.

After all, that is half of the college experience. However, some students find extracurricular activities combined with a full load of classes lead to excessive amounts of stress.

“I really get stressed out when many assignments start to overlap each other,” said Holly Houston, a freshman international business major. “But (stress) actually helps me work harder or otherwise I’d probably never get anything done.”

Monica Kintigh, a licensed professional counselor for the TCU Counseling Center, said the more decisions there are for a student to make, the more stress is caused.
“A little anxiety can keep us focused, but when it immobilizes you is when it becomes a problem,” Kintigh said.

Real signs of stress, such as frequent headaches, dizziness, stomachaches and fatigue, can be the physiological ways of the body responding to high stress levels, said Kintigh. Experts at Stanford University recommend to lower stress one could exercise more, eat healthy foods and take less stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine.

“To relieve stress, a student could try using breathing techniques, meditation, listening to relaxing instrumental music and above all to keep a sense of humor,” Kintigh said.

Anyone can avoid becoming overwhelmed with stress. According to Stanford University research, even simple things like talking to a close friend or putting together a set daily schedule can decrease the amount of stress in one’s life. Mandi McReynolds, a junior religion major, said students need to achieve a healthy balance between school and extracurricular activities in order to stay stress-free.

“Too many people are too focused on getting a 4.0 (GPA) and taking harder courses to get into grad schools,” McReynolds said. “But it is important to get involved on campus, if only in one or two organizations. Most importantly, at some point you have to stop studying and get out of your room and talk to other people.”

Information on time management, stress and ways to avoid burnout are available at the TCU Counseling Center, Center for Academic Services and Campus Life Ministries. The Counseling Center also offers pamphlets on stress management and relaxation techniques.

Not everyone can handle the same amount of stress. While some limit themselves to 12 semester hours and a single activity, others want to take on the world each day. Still, before it feels like burning out from stress, it would be a good idea to get some professional advice before curling up into the fetal position in a corner of your room.

Monique Bhimani
m.s.bhimani@student.tcu

   

The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

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