Stress is unavoidable and a part of every person's life. There is good stress and bad stress, and we've all been under stress at some point in our lives. However, chronic stress can cause serious damage to our well-being and physical and mental health, and it's important to try and cope with stress effectively. That's why designing a stress management plan is the most effective way to cope with stress and improve physical and mental health as well as overall well-being. In this essay, I will identify my stress triggers, reflect on how stress impacts my well-being, discover my current coping skills both good and bad, and design a stress management plan. As a college student, school is undoubtedly the most stressful thing in my life right …show more content…
Stress mostly takes a heavy toll on me physically and emotionally. When my body is stressed, the muscles on my shoulders, neck, and back tense up, and I eventually get a headache. Also, I get nervous when I feel stressed which causes my heart rate to go up and my hands to start sweating. Unfortunately, fatigue is another symptom that I get which causes me to lose concentration and have a short attention span, slow reflexes, slow reaction time, and little energy to function properly. The emotional symptoms I get when I'm stressed are feeling overwhelmed, fear, irritability, nervousness, impatience, and unhappiness. Due to the heavy load of homework, it can cause me to become impatient and frustrated. I lack the ability to relax until I get my work done in time which causes me to be unhappy, irritable, and moody. Additionally, I get anxious sometimes when I have to get homework or studying for a test done at a deadline. These symptoms help me recognize when stress is taking a heavy toll on my …show more content…
When I feel stressed out, I indulge in a physical activity such as playing tennis, running, or lifting weights since exercise releases endorphins and provides relief. In addition to exercising, maintaining a healthy diet is very important for reducing my stress. When I'm overwhelmed with work, I enjoy taking some time to relax and get involved in a hobby or interest. Reading, sleeping, listening to music, and watching a movie are hobbies that help me de-stress and take my mind off my working life. However, there are some bad coping skills I use to deal with stress. I don't seek out friends for conversation and support, and I withdraw emotionally. I need to be alone and think about how I'm going to deal with stressful events on my own. Additionally, I start getting anxious about the problem, but eventually I figure out a solution to handle stressful events. Using these healthy and useful coping methods help me manage my stress and to stay positive so I can reduce the negative impact of obstacles and challenges that life brings