Happy, healthy and stressed!
Why feeling the pressure of school may be a good thing
RANDY SAWATZKY
Damaging stressors — personal, professional, cultural and economic — and their cumulative effect have been historically known to rob us of health, happiness and peace of mind. But recent studies show that things might not be quite so simple. Research suggests that stressful events, such as the dreaded exam period, may actually be doing you more good than your sweaty palms and thumping heart indicate.
Physiologically speaking, shortterm events create “good” stress. But once these events stretch over a number of days they become “bad” physical stress. Of course, psychologically speaking, such things as a challenge may be construed as stressful for one person, but another person may find the same experience enjoyable and empowering.
Good stress is typically shortlived and acute. It helps galvanize the immune system by provoking the fight or flight response. Rather than dreading your upcoming exam, you might view it as a stress workout.
The fight or flight response is actually an adaptive response to brief stresses that require physical responses, such as fighting or fleeing. That response includes increases in heart rate and blood pressure, the release of glucose from stores in the liver and muscles, and redistribution of immune cells to places where they can be most effective.
Public speaking, job interviews or writing an exam are examples of time-limited acute forms of stress that appear to boost the immune system. Chronic stressors — such as caring for someone suffering from a severe mental illness, enduring protracted abuse in a situation in which you are helpless, or experiencing a permanent disability — can damage the immune system, making us more susceptible to illness.
From the viewpoint of the immune system, “good” stress prepares the body better for possible invasion and infection, whereas “bad” stress makes the body less well prepared to fight off invaders.
Both sexes are equally affected by distinctive patterns of stress. One viewpoint is that if you have a lot of short-term stress, what you essentially end up with is long-term stress. Another viewpoint has been called “toughening up,” and it suggests that repeated short-term stress might make you physiologically tougher, that is, more resilient. There’s not enough science to definitively say who is right.
There are many stress-reduction techniques you can employ, including:
•Develop relaxation skills by attending a yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi class.
•Meditate.
•Exercise regularly — go to the gym and workout between classes and maintain that workout routine.
•Learn to think about stress differently — this is called cognitive restructuring.
•Make concerted efforts to get the most from all of your relationships.
On campus, the university’s Recreation Services helps students and staff reduce stress by embracing active, healthy lifestyles. A diverse assortment of enjoyable and educational experiences can help everyone decrease their stress levels and have an improved quality of life.
Randy Sawatzky is the assistant director of Recreation Services.
