1	Dealing With Stress / Being Away From Home Eileen Dondero, RN/ARNP Student Health Services Office of Counseling and Student Health Services
2	Stress : What is it? Stress is your physical, emotional and mental response to change, regardless of whether the change is good or bad. The nonspecific response of the body to any demand put upon it.
3	Understanding Stress Survival Stress - fight or flight response Internally generated stress - your personality affects the way in which you experience stress Environmental - school work, job, fatigue, etc.
4	Stretching the Rubber Band Using the analogy of a rubber band - positive stress is just the right amount of stress needed to stretch the band and make it useful. Negative stress snaps the band.
5	Is all stress bad? Not all stress is bad. Stress can be either good (eustress) or bad (distress). You need stress in your life. “Stress is the spice of life”. Han Selye
6	When is stress bad? Stress becomes distress when it becomes excessive. Stress can be harmful when it is prolonged and starts to cause fatigue, exhaustion and other physical and mental symptoms. Constant adrenaline surge is harmful.
7	Sources of Stress Being away at college Adjusting to college life Homesick blues Worry over “Where do I fit in here?” Finances
8	Sources of Stress Values Crisis: conflict in areas of race, drugs, alcohol experimentation, morality, religion and social expectations Academic work load Loneliness Dates No dates
9	Sources of Stress... Not being organized Deadlines Feelings of inadequacy Worry over vocational choices Extracurricular time strains
10	Sources of Stress... Health problems Relationship problems Living arrangements/adjustments
11	Positive Aspects of Stress As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action. It can result in a new awareness and exciting new perspective. Allows us to engage with the challenges of life Offsets boredom
12	Symptoms of Bad Stress Faster heart beat Increased sweating Cool skin
13	Symptoms of Stress… Cold hands and feet Feelings of nausea Rapid breathing Tense muscles Dry mouth Diarrhea
14	Symptoms of Stress... Problems eating or sleeping Frequent colds Other illnesses - such as headaches, digestive problems Increased use of alcohol or other drugs A general sense of the “blahs” Problems making decisions
15	Symptoms of Stress... Problems making decisions, procrastination Inability to concentrate or pay attention Irritability Overpowering urges to cry or run and hide Frequent accidents or minor injuries
16	Long-Term Effects Prolonged stress may affect your immune system, heart function, metabolism, and hormone levels. May affect your recovery from - as well as your susceptibility to - illness.
17	Taking Charge College gives you an opportunity to evaluate and change the ways you manage stress. You may need to learn new techniques to manage stress. Consider stress management training classes.
18	Short-Term Ways to Handle Stress Take a break Relax where you are - breathe deeply If you can’t fight or flight or flee, then flow. Ask yourself if it is worth being upset over the situation.
19	Short-Term Ways to handle Stress... Make a list of all the things you think you need to do right now.
20	Long-Term Ways to Handle Stress Seek your own stress level. Choose your own goals. Become part of a support system. Think positive. Make decisions. Keep your expectations realistic.
21	Long-Term Ways to Handle Stress... Accept what you cannot change. Anticipate potentially stressful situations and prepare for them. Live in the present. Manage your time. Take care of your health. Take time for yourself.