As finals week continues, stress can be an ever-present companion to many.
“Stress is typically anything in life that challenges us and causes us to readjust things or work harder,” Joseph Dunnigan, University Counseling Services senior clinical counselor, said. “Probably better than asking, ‘What is the definition of stress?’ is really looking at what things are stressors.”
These stressors can include academic demands, relationships, financial problems and other things outside of a person’s control, Dunnigan said.
“Worse is when the stressors all sort of intersect,” Dunnigan said. “And you have someone who maybe they just went through a break-up, they’re not doing well academically and they’re broke.”
Other times stress comes from a student’s lack of diligence.
“My stress is caused by waiting to the last minute to get everything done,” art junior Shaylene Thompson said. “I’m a big procrastinator.”
If the body experiences enough stress, it can wear down the immune system, Rachel Shreffler, University Health Services health education coordinator, said.
“That leaves individuals open or more vulnerable to illnesses,” Shreffler said. “Things such as ulcers, migraines and headaches, fatigue, sleeplessness. We see an increase in chronic illnesses, we see an increase in acute illnesses like susceptibility to colds.”
Shreffler said there are times stress- related illnesses are more common on campus.
“You can almost look at times where the campus is more ‘stressed’ if you will, midterms, especially with Homecoming falling around midterms. Finals week, we see an increase in incidents of stress-related illnesses,” she said. “Because of the taxing on the immune system.”
The level of stress it takes to make a person ill varies.
“Quantifiably it’s really hard to determine and kind of depends on the person and what sort of resources they have to handle the stress,” Dunnigan said.
The key to keeping stress from reaching that level is to learn to recognize the body’s warning signs, Shreffler said.
“Look at it like the oil indicator light in your car,” Shreffler said. “When that comes on you’re going to stop, you’re going to check the oil and you’re going to do that as soon as possible or you’re going to end up, very simply, burning up your engine.”
Another way to prevent stress-related illnesses is to use stress management techniques.
“Some people use imagery, so people like progressive relaxation, some people like yoga,” Shreffler said. “Some people just like to get in their car and drive. The key is figuring out what would work for you.”
Both University Counseling Services and University Heath Services offer outreaches to raise awareness about stress and stress-related illnesses.
Sometimes a stress-related illness can teach a lesson.
“In high school I got sick, really sick,” music performance sophomore Stacey Durham said.
“And I think having that experience going to college, I learned my lesson. I learned to recognize when I feel something coming on, to really stop and think, ‘Oh I need to get more sleep ‘ or ‘I need to eat better. I need to make a change right now.’”
Where to find help:
University Counseling
Services:
Call 405-744-5472 to set up an appointment.
Walk-in hours are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m
Monday through Friday or visit okstate.edu/ucs for more information.
University Health Services:
Call 405-744-7665 for more information. It’s open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.okstate.edu/UHS.
Be the first to comment on this article!