Dealing with Stress
Students often report that stress is one of the main impediments to their academic success at CU. There are different strategies for individuals to reduce stress. Some techniques may be more appealing than others. Play around with the following approaches to find ways that work for you
Community Health offers information and techniques about ways to handle stress as well as hands-on workshops where students can receive chair massages, aromatherapy, and other stress relieving techniques.
Individuals have different levels of tolerance or stress. Our resilience to stress can be impacted by factors such as our biology, cultural background, physical environment, and social environment. Effective public health approaches recognize the long-term impacts of chronic stress and address social inequities to diminish chronic stress and its effects. Some examples of policies and programs include:
More and more research indicates that the environment we live in greatly affects our stress levels. In short bursts stress can motivate people and help them succeed. However, when stress is experienced over longer periods of time it can negatively impact health. Too much stress contributes to a weakened immune system and increased susceptibility to illness. Research shows that chronic stress has long-term health impacts including decreased cognitive function and chronic disease. People who have little control in their lives or who are marginalized members of society are at particular risk for chronic stress. Individual based approaches to help people reduce stress are very important. However, policy changes that address inequities and highlight resiliency factors are the most effective ways to minimize differential health outcomes due to stress.
Psychological Health and Psychiatry, Wardenburg Health Center