by Chelsea Vandermeer
College Stress: Stress is a demand that is placed on you. There are forms of positive and negative stress. For example, the burst of adrenaline to get our paper finished at the last minute, or performing well in sports are both examples of positive stress.Positive stress is short term tension that disapears when the challenge is met. However, not all stress is positive and negative stress, or distress can often result in physical and psychological side effects. Headaches, feelings of fear or sadness, increased anxiety, increased body temperature and heart rate are all effects of negative stress. When your body can not return to homeostasis then you are experiencing a negative stressor. The Physical trauma stress places on your body often leads to mental/physical exhaustion and illness. For example, money, sick family members, or schoolwork are all common negative stressors in a college student's life. If we do not learn how to control and manage this stress in a healthy way it starts to affect our relationshps, health, and well being. The point of this webquest is to allow students to identify their stressors through self reflection and try different methods of managing these stressors. Through journal writing, the student is going to be able to determine what different stress management styles are effective in their life!
Teacher Introduction
Many students today do not realize the effects stress have on your body both physically and psychologically. Living in the world we live in people often do not step back and take time to self reflect, but are consumed with the daily hassles and stress becomes embedded in them. It is our job as teachers to instill these stress management skills into students so they are prepared to enter the world on their own. Going away to college is a big step in a person's life. Students now lack parental guidance to watch after them, or do their laundry, or cook and clean for them. It is the first time, for most students, to be independent and on their own. It is exciting, but can also be very stressful! With these simple stress management skills, we are allowing them to be in better control of their life, their emotions, and their actions! As teacher's it is important to help our student's understand that they will always have stress in their life, but by helping them explore new coping strategies will benefit them for the rest of their life!
