Experiencing “good” stress is motivating and is an essential part of life. Feeling an appropriate amount of stress gives you the drive you need to study for a test, do well on a job interview, and achieve other goals that make your life fulfilling. When stress is chronic, or is not managed well, it becomes “bad” stress. The following resources will help you determine if the stress you feel is “good” or “bad” and will provide tools to help you make healthy stress management choices.
Here you will find great tools and resources for college students.
On This Page:Stress is the body’s way of responding to any type of demand, such as school deadlines or an illness. Some stress is helpful because it keeps us safe and motivates us to get things done. Unmanaged stress leads to burnout and anxiety disorders.
Stress symptoms are similar to anxiety and include: irritability, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and tension. The main difference is that stress has an identifiable trigger that we can control or improve upon. Anxiety includes worries that have unclear origins or worries that won’t go away when the trigger is gone. The stress curve graphic in the previous section demonstrates how stress impacts performance and can lead to anxiety and burnout. It is important to pay attention to your body’s signals to prevent crossing into the exhaustion and overloaded stress range.
This screening tool can help measure the stress in your life and determine if it may be time to seek help.