Skip to main content
It's the first week back after spring break and the ARC is as busy as ever.  I don't know about you, but I'm already feeling a bit stressed and overwhelmed about the rest of the semester.  I would like to explain what stress is, the symptoms of stress, and debunk a few myths about stress. Over the next few posts, I will provide I a few easy stress relief activities and include resources for more information and where to seek help. 

Stress: Physiological and emotional responses to an event.

Physiological Symptoms of Stress


1.) Increased heart rate
2.) Dry mouth
3.) Tight muscles
4.) Sweating
5.) Headaches
6.) Exhaustion

Cognitive/Emotional Symptoms of Stress

1.) Restlessness
2.) Trouble concentrating
3.) Negative self-talk
4.) Exhaustion

Myths (www.apa.org)

1.) Stress is the same for everybody

Truth: Everyone reacts differently to stress.  Everyone does not get stressed out from the same situations or circumstances.

2.) Stress is always bad for you

Truth: A little stress is good.  The most important thing is to learn ways to manage your stress.

3.) Stress is everywhere, so you can't do anything about it

Truth: Nope! You can plan your life in ways to reduce stress, so you don't feel so overwhelmed all of the time.  Try prioritizing what you need to do and attending to the simpler things before the really overwhelming things on your list.

4.) No symptoms, no stress.

Truth: You may still be experiencing some stress even if you don't have specific symptoms.

5.) Only the minor symptoms of stress require attention.

Truth: Pay attention to any and all symptoms.  Minor symptoms are a sign that your life may be getting out of hand.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

It was suggested that I write do series on how to write a research paper.  I will add a new step each week. Step 1: Choosing a Topic You cannot begin to write a research paper without a topic.  Choosing a topic may seem like a simple task, but it is sometimes a complicated process.  As undergraduates, you are typically assigned to write a review of the research in a particular area, such as psychological disorders or genetic diseases.  Pick something that interests you!  For some, writing papers is a tedious task.  Picking an enjoyable topic rather than choosing an easy topic, such as one in which you know a lot of information exists (e.g. a topic the media covers regularly) may make the process more interesting.   When you have no idea what topic to choose, talk to your professor/instructor or flip through your book to get an idea.  Once you have chosen a general area as your focus (it could be as general as "depression" or "Huntington's disease"), perform a G...
How to write a research paper: Step 2: Searching the literature The next step is gathering information. It helps to choose specific key words that directly relate to your topic.  These are the words you will use to search for in Google Scholar or whichever search engine/database you plan to use.  The IIT library website provides access to numerous databases in various subjects.  If you are unsure about which database is right for your research question, talk to your professor/instructor, a librarian, or one of the tutors at the ARC (they may have prior experience).  Choose keywords directly from your research question. Many search engines allow you to search multiple words at once. For instance, if my question was, what is the difference between depressive symptoms in Eastern versus Western cultures?, I may choose to enter, "depression," and "Eastern culture." Entering "depression" by itself would provide too many results.  Specificity is key; however, bei...