Stress 101
What is stress?
Body's emotional and physical response to pressure and demands
Name 1 healthy coping strat you can do in less than 10 minutes?
- deep breathing
- short walk
- listen to music
- talk to someone
- etc.
Going for a walk when you are overwhelmed?
healthy!
What therapy would help?
“I failed one quiz, so obviously I’m going to fail the entire course.”
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Why is managing physical health important when dealing with stress?
Physical and mental health affect each other
- Sleep, nutrition, movement, and rest can influence energy, concentration, mood, and coping!!
Name 2 common causes of stress for students
- exams
- assignments
- financials
- clinicals
- lack of sleep
- relationships
What is deep breathing?
breathing technique that involves slowly inhaling/exhaling to help calm nerves
Staying up all night studying before every exam?
Unhealthy!
What therapy would help?
A student says they feel like nobody understands how stressful university is. They want to connect with people going through similar experiences.
Group therapy
What is group therapy? How can it help students?
type of therapy involves several people meeting together to discuss similar struggles and support each other
It can help students realize they aren't alone and learn coping strategies from others
Before an exam, Alex feels a little nervous, but it motivates them to study and stay focused. Is this stress always a bad thing?
Nope! A manageable amount of stress can motivate us and improve focus
Noah has four assignments due. Instead of trying to do everything at once, he makes a list and breaks each assignment into smaller steps. What coping strategy is he using?
planning/prioritizing tasks
If you find you are saying, “I'm fine. I don't need anyone,” even though the stress is affecting sleep and school. What healthier action could you take?
reach out for help
What therapy would help?
A student feels overwhelmed by everything they have to do and wants to focus on small, realistic goals they can start working on immediately.
Mindfulness-based therapy/strategies
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
This therapy helps you identify negative thoughts and replace them with healthier, more realistic ones.
Example: changing “I’m going to fail this exam” to “I can prepare the best I can and ask for help where I need it.”
What are 2 signs that someone may be experiencing too much stress?
- headaches
- troubles sleeping
- irritability
- hard to concentrate
- appetite changes
- anxiety
Ava has had a stressful week and calls her parents to talk about how she is feeling instead of keeping everything to herself. What coping strategy is this?
using social support
Avoiding an assignment because thinking about it makes you anxious
unhealthy
What therapy would help?
A student feels overwhelmed by everything they have to do and wants to focus on small, realistic goals they can start working on immediately
Solution-focused brief therapy
What is mindfulness-based therapy?
teaches you to focus on the present moment instead of constantly worrying about what might happen
- It may use breathing or meditation
What is burnout?
Long term stress that is not managed, can contribute to physical and emotional exhaustion
Name two people/resources a stressed student could reach out to for support
- friend/family
- instructor
- academic advisor
- counsellor
- healthcare professional
Taking a break from studying to watch one episode of a show, then returning to your work.
Healthy, as long as the break is intentional and doesn't turn into avoiding your responsibilities.
Why did we ask you your stress level on a scale from 1-10? Why is using a scale helpful?
meausres how stressed you feel, understands the severity of your stress, and tracks whether it imporves/worsens
What is solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)?
It focuses on strengths, goals, and what the person can do moving forward.
This short-term therapy focuses on finding practical solutions to current problems.