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STRESS - AND
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
What is stress?
We often think
of stress as a result of an event that happens to us but it is not the
event that is stressful, but the way we interpret and react to an event
that is stressful. Something that might be quite stressful
to one person may be completely non-stressful for another. For example,
writing, which you will do a lot of in law school, is very stressful for
some people; others experience it as relaxing.
What are the
Signs and Symptoms of Stress?
There are several
signs and symptoms that you may notice when you are experiencing stress.
These fall into four broad categories: Feelings, Thoughts, Behavior,
and Physiological. When you are under stress, you may experience one or
more of the following (note: this is not an exhaustive list):
Feelings
Anxiety
Fear
Irritability
Moodiness
Behavior
Crying for no apparent
reason
Starting smoking
or smoking more than usual
Using drugs and/or
alcohol more
Acting impulsively
Having accidents
Overeating or
not being able to eat at all
Thoughts
Inability to concentrate
Forgetfulness
Obsessing about
failure (e.g. exams)
Worrying about
the future
Being preoccupied
Physiological
Heart racing
Hands sweating
Dry mouth
Hands shaking
Exhaustion
Problems sleeping
Upset stomach
Back and/or neck
pain
Overeating or
not being able to eat at all
Getting lots of
colds, or other illnesses
Many people say
they work best under pressure - stress doesn't really get to them.
And, it is true that stress is a part of day to day living, and not necessarily
harmful. In fact, as you may have experienced, mild stress can act
as a motivator and energizer. But, if your stress level is too high, it
can take its toll on your body and your social relationships. Law
school, like other graduate programs, can be stressful - and the first
year especially so.
Causes of Stress
Paradoxically,
not just negative events cause stress; positive events can also be stressful.
Major life changes are the major source of stress for most people and they
use up a lot of our coping resources. Some examples of stressful
major life changes for students are:
Moving from a familiar
place
Beginning a new
phase in one's life, such as law school
Marriage, separation,
divorce
Pregnancy, miscarriage,
delivering a baby
Experiencing the
death of someone close to you
In addition, external
events can add to your stress, such as:
Deadlines
Financial worries
Competition
No quiet place
to study or work
Losses or disappointments
How to Reduce
Stress
Here are some ways
to minimize your stress and to manage it, rather than it managing you:
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Try and figure out
what is stressful to you and how you usually react to stress
-
Get regular exercise
-
Eat a balanced diet
- eating only junk food will catch up with you sooner or later
-
Find someone you trust
to talk with about your problems and concerns
-
Buy/get a planner
and use it to maximize the time available to you
-
Plan ahead to avoid
last minute problems (e.g. plan to print out a paper the night before it's
due; those who come to school a half hour before the paper is due and plan
to print it out then usually find that the printers have gone on strike!)
-
Set realistic goals
and priorities
-
Use relaxation techniques
to decrease stress. If you don't know how to systematically relax
yourself, we have resources to teach you.
-
Take frequent breaks
from studying, even if they're only for 10 minutes at a time. Get
up, walk around, have a drink of water, give yourself permission not to
study every minute.
-
Remember you had a
life before you came to law school. You liked to do things like go
to movies, hear music, play softball, visit museums. You may not
be able to do something like that every day, but you should make time to
do some of what you used to love.
-
Remember, too, that
you have been successful in other things you have done in your life.
You'll be fine here too - even though it may not feel that way on a given
day.
-
We have many resources
to assist you. And, keep in mind, that law school students make up
the largest number of graduate students seen at Northeastern University's
counseling center. There is no reason to suffer alone - ask
if you need help.
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