As the new year gets going and classes near midterm season, you may find yourself feeling stressed or more stressed than usual. It’s important to remember that stress is completely normal and is experienced by everyone. When you are feeling stressed try to identify what is contributing to your stress. It could be your classes, your friends, your family, your job, finances, or perhaps the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is Stress?
Stress can be both good and bad and can stem from a range of factors in your life. Inside your body, stress stimulates the production of adrenaline which increases your energy and alertness. Stress can help with things like your performance in a sport or give you motivation for an exam or presentation. If you can direct this energy and use it to your advantage, stress can be helpful.
Stress becomes a problem when it starts to overwhelm you and prevents you from developing healthy coping skills. When this happens, stress can be bad for you. When I feel stressed, I like to take a break from whatever I’m working on or studying for and do something that helps take my mind off what’s stressing me out.
For example, some of the things I like to do are listen to music, go for a run or walk, watch a movie or tv show episode, or talk with a friend or family member. The best way to deal with your stress is to find a strategy or coping mechanism that works for you and best suits your needs.
If your stress becomes something that you are not able to control on your own or find sufficient coping mechanisms for, it may be something more than just stress and you should consider seeking help.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety can come in several forms and disorders. Some examples of anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Social and Separation Anxiety Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic Disorders
- Phobias such as the fear of heights known as acrophobia.
- Fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment which is also known as Agoraphobia.
Anxiety Signs & Symptoms
It is helpful for me to differentiate between these different disorders by understanding some of the symptoms associated with them. For example, symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder include but are not limited to:
- Frequent worrying
- Difficulty controlling worry
- Restlessness
- Frequent fatigue
- Difficulty focusing and/or remembering things
- Irritability
- Tension throughout the body
- Difficulty sleeping
The Line Between Stress and Anxiety
It is normal to feel stressed before some sort of event such as an exam, a presentation, or perhaps a job interview. This type of stress is usually realistic, controllable, and temporary because once you finish the interview or exam, the stress goes away. It is important to understand that stress impacts everyone differently and everyone has different things that cause them stress.
When stress becomes debilitating and you are unable to pinpoint the cause of the stress, you may be experiencing anxiety. Typically, feelings of anxiety are unrealistic, uncontrollable, and can last for weeks or months at a time. Unlike stress which produces a mild emotional response, anxiety can cause a significant emotional response. If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety know you are not alone. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.
When & Where to Seek Help
You should seek help if you are experiencing feelings of:
- Being distant or disconnected from the campus community
- An increased amount of anxiety, depression, or stress
- Feeling sad or the need to be heard
- Tragedy such as losing a family member or friend, sexual assault, or are having suicidal thoughts
WSU Counseling Services is a great resource for students who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression or who want help developing healthy coping mechanisms to deal with sadness and stress. Set up an appointment with them via email at counselingservices@winona.edu or by phone at 507.457.5330.
WSU also offers medical management of health services through Health and Wellness Services. These appointments can be done virtually, via telehealth. To learn more about what services they offer call 507.457.5160.
