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Helping Your Students Manage Stress
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| The Chinese word for crisis is written combining the words opportunity and danger. Stress is just that. Recognizing Stress in our Students The Chinese word for crisis is written combining the words opportunity and danger. Stress is just that. There are two kinds of stress: distress and eustress. Distress is the harmful unpleasant stress. Eustress is a pleasant stress experience. Let's focus on distress. There are Three Stages of Distress. State One is called the Initial Reaction. This is when we are aware we are experiencing stress. Some people show visual signs of the initial reaction by tapping on a desk or playing with their beard (or hair) or biting their lips. Stage Two can be called the Response Stage. This is where some people will show their reaction to the distress they're feeling via some behavior. Some students may start to shy away from class activities and/or not participate in discussions. Stage Three is called exhaustion. In this case a student may totally withdraw from all class activities, discussions, and work groups. How Can We Help Your Students Work Through Distress If you (i.e., teacher or teaching assistant) recognize a student's distress, one initial step is to arrange a one-on-one conversation (i.e., ZOOM or cell phone) outside of class. Talking is beneficial because it may help relieve some strain for the student. It can also provide the teacher with some awareness of the student's situation. Encouraging a student to do some time of physical activity, meditation and relaxation is a great way to help relieve stress. These are all positive behaviors that often help relieve the anxiety of a distressful situation. Encourage the student to do something for others. Often times when we volunteer to help a friend, a colleague or a family member it lessons the distress we may be experiencing. Often times teachers will become aware that the stress students are experiences is from being overloaded in their classes. Help the student realize that getting organized and then tackling tasks one at a time is a very positive strategy. Helping student become more productive when they feel stressed will actually help reduce the stress. It is important for teachers to be aware that due to COVID-19, students are experiencing numerous other academic stressors they normally do not experience (as much) in face-to-face classes. Help guide students through difficult projects and upcoming exams. For challenging projects, provide guidance how students may organize their steps to success in completing the project. Give them some type of academic road map. For exams, perhaps recommend specific readings and topical content to review. Seeking Additional Help that UNM Provides. If you realize a student is challenged by excessive stress or difficult personal problems, psychological and/or psychiatric support may be helpful or necessary. At UNM, students can meet with trained mental health professionals in the Student Health & Counseling (SHAC). For more information call SHAC at 505-277-3136. Two Final Quotes on Stress “It's not that stress kills us, it is our reaction to it.” Hans Selye (famous researcher on stress). “When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945) Great Readings: Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, Third Edition By Robert M. Sapolsky Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking By S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport |
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