Kicking Stress's Butt

We, especially as college students, all know what it is like to be stressed out. But I doubt that most of us are aware of exactly how damaging stress can be, and how to go about living a healthier, stress-free lifestyle. So I researched some facts, and this is what I found:

First of all, there are a few different types of stress. Eustress is actually a positive form of stress. This is the anxiety you feel while riding a roller coaster, or racing down a black diamond mountain on skis. Eustress keeps us vital and excited about life; without it, we would not be as motivated to strive for goals and overcome what we can look at as challenges, not threats. Acute stress is a short-term stress. This would be what I would think of as the everyday stress, like experiencing road rage, or a rude salesperson at a store. Then there is chronic stress. Chronic stress is the ongoing stress that can be the most damaging to one's health. This comes from things like high-pressured jobs, or a bad marriage.

With chronic stress, our fight-or-flight response begins to wear down our bodies, and the physical symptoms become apparent. You have the obvious signs, like depression, boredom, obesity, and heart disease, but did you know that chronic stress can also cause hair loss, sexual dysfunction, gum disease, and maybe even cancer?

So how does one combat stress? You can either tame it while it's experienced, with yoga, meditation, writing/drawing, or breathing exercises, or you can prevent it, with organization techniques, relationship skills, time management, rest, exercise, or a healthy diet. But take the time to move forward into a healthy, stress-free lifestyle. Not only will you diminish your chances of unhealthy, stress related symptoms, but you will feel better about yourself, and look on the bright side with a positive attitude! :)