Matt Dionne | Sports and Health Editor
Featured image: A great way to counter the negative physical side effects of stress is by staying active. | Courtesy of Guido McGuigan
The leaves are changing colours, the Ugg boots are coming out, everything is pumpkin-spiced and Halloween decorations abound—it’s autumn.
One of the negative side effects of autumn for students is midterm season.
With the added pressure to do well on exams, students are facing higher-than-normal levels of stress.
“Previous research has found a number of student stressors associated with academic life, including transitioning to a new life stage, adapting to academic demands and challenges, time management [and] maintaining one’s health and wellness,” says psychology professor Jennine Rawana.
People who suffer from chronic stress can experience a plethora of symptoms, including anxiety, depression and insomnia. Stress can also factor into drug and alcohol abuse.
“For me, stress takes a toll on everything I do. I still don’t know proper control yet. It has affected my ability to stay sane at my job, when I’m working on papers and even when I’m home alone. Being overwhelmed with stress has caused me to have major breakdowns. There were times I’d skip work and class because I was bombarded with too much stress. When I’m extremely stressed I get hungry, a lot of headaches and anxiety. Usually the hunger is more of a fatty-foods craving. A&W is where I am during midterms. When I’m stressed, I have a lot on my mind, and when I have a lot on my mind, I can’t sleep.” – Tabitha Peters, fourth-year professional writing student
When I’m stressed I have a physical bodily reaction. I tend to get migraines, abdominal pains, heightened awareness and nausea, to name a few. I tend to sleep between two and five hours per night when I’m in the middle of a stressful period such as exams and midterms. One of the main reasons I can’t sleep during stressful episodes is because I tend to grow too concerned or guilty that I’m not doing any work, and I could be finishing something, so I become completely exhausted when all my exams are completed. Also, my eating habits do change because, similarly to my sleep, I feel guilty for not being productive, so instead of “wasting” my time on cooking or eating, I spend it completing a task on my to-do list. – Ashley Bain, fourth-year linguistics student
I find that stress interferes with my ability to start my assignments, which makes me do things late, which gets me even more stressed. It’s a cycle of stress that doesn’t fade until around the end of the semester. When I’m particularly stressed I don’t get as much sleep as I should, and I find myself napping throughout the day. I’m also more irritable than normal. When I’m stressed, I snack more than usual, and I crave junk food more than anything else. – Mustafa Safadieh, fourth-year professional writing student
When I’m particularly stressed, I fi nd my sense of ambition declines. I feel no desire to leave the house, no desire to get out and try new things and no desire keep myself on track to finding happiness. It can get to a point where human interaction just seems to be too much work. When I’m experiencing a great deal of stress I feel very depressed. The inability to meet my professor’s expectations, the inability to meet my parents’ expectations and the inability to meet the expectations of the old me make me feel very inadequate. – Guido McGuigan, fourth-year Schulich international business student
Fortunately, there are many ways to deal with stress both on physical and psychological levels.
According to helpguide.org, a great way to counter the negative physical side effects of stress is exercise. Thirty minutes of daily exercise is ideal, but any amount can have positive effects. Exercising releases endorphins, known as an exercise high, which can improve your mood and distract from stressors.
Additionally, developing organization and budgetary skills, setting and achieving attainable personal goals, practicing mindfulness techniques such as meditation and seeking emotional support and encouragement from friends can all help reduce stress and improve a person’s emotional well-being, according to Rawana.
