A Forever Recovery Blog

By Ivy R. Miller

There are many things that can cause us stress and anxiety and it can be found even in our daily lives which can affect and inhibits our normal life. That is why you have to find some ways to prevent stress from ruining your normal life. Allowing stress to take over will not solve the problem but it can make it even worst. The best way to get rid of stress is to make sure you are armed with all the strategies about managing stress to help you relieve from any pressure.

Stress management starts when you let yourself control your own mind. It is about letting your own mind to think about the only things you want to think about, what emotions you will allow yourself to feel, how you plan your life and how you solve your problems. Once you are aware of these things and on what yourself can do about it, you will have no problems dealing with stress no matter when or how it will strike you.

Stress management is also about dealing and facing your problem head on without ruining your deadlines. Your goal must have all the right aspects in life such as play, work, leisure, relationship and most especially spirituality. Determining the main cause or root of unpleasant things is not as easy as it may sound. This is because the stress may have other factors combine on it that is coming from the environment around you. For instance the main cause of your stress is your family and your work. Another cause may be your own negative thoughts which most of the time you are not aware of.

Once you determine the main causes or root of your stress and anxiety attacks, you must learn how to start working and dealing on it. Track and make a list on all the possible solution you can come up with and do some trial and error. Check which solution works best on a certain problem so that the next time you will encounter this kind of problem again you will know what technique of stress management you will use against it. You must also try to establish other useful ways on how you can handle your stress attacks and which one will help you lessen the attacks.

By Luka Malgaj

Stress affects all students, from graduate level to those in the kindergarten. The term stress refers to the response you have when facing circumstances that force you to act, change or adjust in some way to keep things balanced. It is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. In the right dose, stress can be healthy or even enjoyable. However, stress can be very damaging for students when it becomes excessive. It can harm students' health, happiness, performance, relationships and personal development. This article will deal with management of negative stress.

Causes Of Stress In Students

Causes of stress in school children include; bullies, a mismatch between student and teacher, concerns about not having enough friends, not in the same class as friends, peer pressure, lack of family time, over scheduling of extra-curricular activities, insufficient sleep, poor diet, lack of preparation, noise pollution among others.

As the students progress to a different level the causes of stress often increase. When students go to college or university, they have to contend with leaving their parents and beginning the process of finding their own identity as adults and their place in the world. The main causes of stress here will therefore include; the new university or college environment, payment of fees, the new relationships formed, the competitive circumstances, exams, lack of proper time management techniques, peer and parental pressure.

How Students Can Manage Stress

Students can manage stress using various techniques. The most important of these are;

1. Learning to manage their time wisely. This is done by setting up a study schedule, breaking up studies into smaller chunks. In short, students are advised to formulate, with the help of their teachers and parents, study timetables and adhere to them.
2. The student will also need to have a system of organization for note-taking, keeping track of assignments and other important papers.
3. Creating a good study environment is also a great tool for stress management. Students have different study habits. While some need a completely quiet room free from interruptions, others actually study better listening to quiet music in the background. A student should pick which is best for him or her.
4. Determining the most appropriate learning style: whether the student is a visual, kinesthetic or auditory learner. Tailoring your study practices around your particular learning styles makes success easier to attain and keeps stress at bay.
5. Using relaxation techniques like deep breathing, visualization or imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation and yoga. Additionally, being optimistic will help students become healthier, less stressed and more successful.
6. Learning how to budget money, spend wisely and pay bills on time, if any, is very important for the student's survival and will lower stress levels.
7. Lastly, students must take care of their bodies and minds by getting proper nutrition, getting some form of physical exercise and getting enough sleep. Seven hours of sleep each night is recommended for optimum body and brain function. Naps, not exceeding one hour, should also be taken when needed.