STRESS and your Health

Why you should listen when your mom says stress is bad for your health.

By Sophie Raynor

            We’ve all heard that too much stress is bad for us. Whether the information comes from your doctor or your mom makes little difference when you’ve got an O-chem test in a half an hour and that paper due at midnight that you’ve put off for way to long. You’re going to be stressed. We’re all going to be stressed (um, this is Macalester). So why does it matter? Your mom might be telling you to relax because she knows how unhappy you are. Anxiety is not a pleasant feeling. Unfortunately, there’s a bit more to it than that uncomfortable looming dread. Stress is not just mental. Your body has a physical response when feelings of stress are induced. In fact, your body’s physical response to that O-chem test is exactly the same as a zebra’s physical response to being chased by a lion. Similar chemicals are released into the blood stream under the stress of the chase as under the stress of the upcoming exam. Again, you think so what? Zebras are majestic, and the adrenaline helps me focus and get my homework done faster. Alas, there is one difference between the zebra and you. The zebra gets away from the lion, or gets eaten. Either way, the stress response is turned off, relatively soon after its instigation. One and done. You on the other hand, have a physics test two days after the O-chem test, that thing you’re applying for has 60 other applicants, and to top it all off, all the good off campus housing is gone and you’re not sure where you’re living next semester. It’s safe to say your stress response is on. All the time. This constant activation of your body’s stress response is what the doctor means when they say stress is bad for your health. It slowly degrades your body’s systems, such as the immune system, making you more susceptible to new diseases/health conditions while exacerbating any current health problems you may have (and that includes psychiatric health problems). Many of us don’t quite realize how much of a beating your body takes internally when you’re constantly stressed. There’s a reason everyone gets sick during finals. 

So what can you do?

• Physical Activity:
• Exercising is one of the best things you can do for yourself when you feel sick, sad, etc. Exercising releases endorphins your body craves when it’s feeling low. Studies have shown that exercising can be as effective as medication in decreasing stress and depression.
• Sleep: 
•  Plain and simple, when you don’t sleep, you don’t feel good. Without sleep your body’s systems downward spiral, so get the rest that your need! Adequate sleep is essential to reducing stress and health as a whole!

• Yoga
• Breathing Exercises
• Meditation
• Social Support
• Talk it out. When things get overwhelming, talk to a friend, a family member, a professor, etc. They are invaluable resources to help you manage your stress, and just the act of sharing can help bring down your stress levels.
• Professional Help
• Talking to a professional can be an extremely effective way to reduce stress. These professionals can help you develop strategies and skills for managing stress. The Health and Wellness Center provides counseling services. To schedule a confidential appointment, please call (651) 696-6275

For more information, check out the book Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers

By Robert M. Sapolsky.