Stress Less
By Diego Arreaga

     Stress occurs all the time to people of every age. But among college students right now-finals week with graduation on the way-now is when it strikes hardest. According to experts and studies, stress can take a huge toll on students. A survey conducted by the Associated Press and mtvU in 2024 found that:

• 4 in 10 students are stressed often
• 1 in 5 felt stress to do any schoolwork or hangout with friends
• 1 in 5 have considered dropping out
• 1 in 6 had friends who in the past year discussed committing suicide
• 1 in 10 considered committing suicide

     According to a website called The Health Center that focuses on psychological issues, there are four different types of stress: eustress, distress, hyperstress, and hypostress. Hyperstress, when an individual is pushed beyond what he or she can handle is the type that most college students are facing right now. Being pushed to the limit with schoolwork, being overworked and overwhelmed while trying to stay in school-and anxiety about failing exams are all common worries that college students have to deal with. CCNY student Stephanie Adams, 22, has a job, finals and graduation crashing down on her. She complains that the expectations of her professors plus her other priorities are preventing her from keeping up. "I don't even care anymore. I think I'm going to talk my professor into giving me a D," she says. "I just need to pass so I can graduate and move on."

     Some experts say stress is a huge problem among college students who worry about balancing their schoolwork along with their personal lives. Some statistics show that stress can be a negative aspect in a college student's life. However, a little stress is normal. It can even sometimes help sharpen abilities to perform better and even act quickly in an emergency. The challenge is how a person manages it, so it doesn't dominate. People respond to stress differently some, can only work if there is a due date for an assignment, meanwhile others can't and as the due date gets closer stress worsens. The New York City Health Department offers 9 ways to cope with stress:

• Get enough sleep.
• Exercise a bit and be physically active
• Breathe and take it easy.
• Talk about it; don't hold it in. Discuss the pressure with friends or family.
• Write about it. For those who can't talk about their stress, writing can help out as well.
• Be good to yourself.
• Make time for some free time.
• Make realistic goals to accomplish.
• Laugh it off.

     Because long-term, chronic stress is damaging, if stress becomes overwhelming, seek help. For more information, go to, American Psychology Association or the American Academy of Family Physicians.