How To Deal With Study Related Stress

Stef Hackney(Mental Health & Wellbeing Adviser,Disability & Wellbeing Service - LSE)

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Aims

• What is stress?• What are the mechanisms involved in

stress?• What are the causes of study related

stress?• Identify strategies for managing

anxiety/stress.• Sources of advice and help

What is Stress?

It is a reaction to pressure or other types of demands placed on us.

We can cope well with short-term exposure to pressure – in fact this can be positive and helpful – but exposure to prolonged stress can be damaging.

Stress is not a disease, but it can reduce our ability to study effectively and it can have a negative impact on our wellbeing.

What is Stress?

Stress is normal. It can be either helpful or unhelpful.For example stress can be helpful when sitting an exam, running a race, being attacked. It is a natural adaptive response. Our body reacts automatically to prepare us for action. Known as the fight or flight response, adrenalin is pumped into our bloodstreams which triggers energetic, quick, acute reactions.

What are the Mechanisms Involved in Stress?

The mechanisms responsible for stress are

The “fight or flight” system.

Our responses (the way we think about, interpret and respond to stressful situations).

The Fight & Flight Response

There are only a few situations in modern life when this system is useful (e.g. assault, accident etc).It helps us to survive immediate danger, but it can also have negative consequences.

The Mechanisms Involved In Stress…

The Fight or Flight Response Continued….

It can cause increased heart rate It can cause ruminating thoughts &

can make it difficult to make decisions.

We can become more accident prone.

It can reduce our ability to study effectively or think clearly.

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breathing rate increases

intestinal muscles relax

pupilsdilate

blood pressurein arteries increases

blood sugar levels increase

heart rate increases

blood flow toskeletal muscles

increases

STRESS HORMONES

Anxiety is less helpful in situations where the fight or flight response is not required. For example a social gathering or in a lecture.

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The Causes of Study Related Stress;

Common challenges in starting at LSE Academic Challenges Social Challenges

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Academic Challenges

New level of study Previous standards Reading strategies Presentations, essays and

exams Academic adviser relationship

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Academic challenges

Overwhelmed with material New style of learning Independent critical voice Anxiety can lead to procrastination

We may disguise avoidance by being busy We may find things to do that are interesting,

but don't contribute towards the main goal

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Social Challenges

Meeting new people Maintaining previous

contacts/support systems

Balancing work/leisure Culture Shock

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Social Challenges

Loss of familiar home, friends, family, routine

Coping with loss, after initial excitement subsides

Depression and anxiety Cultural isolation Relationships and Identity Financial difficulties

Why should we be concerned?

Our Brain, Body & Behaviour changes when we are under stress. Stress can prevent us beingproductive, happy & successful. Stress can cause us to feel unwell & unable to cope. Stress can make us lose sleep & can lead us to do things we won’t otherwise do!

Understanding Stress

Psychological Causes of Study Related Stress

Study stress is also about your beliefs about and attitude towards studying.

The way you think & interpret the pressure of studying can cause you to:

1. feel threatened by a situation (e.g. an essay deadline)

2. doubt your capabilities in dealing with the situation (e.g. keeping up with reading) How you feel also depends on how you think about

studying & your resources for dealing with your studies.

So is your attitude towards studying a helpful one?

Psychological Causes…

Worries about not being able to study to your best level. Not being sure how to prepare for or write

essays/coursework. Feeling you don’t fit in with your class, or not being able to connect with others. Not managing your time well. Striving for perfection. Procrastinating. Having all-or-nothing thinking.

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• All or nothing thinking

• Discounting the positive• only seeing the negative side

• Over-generalizing • ‘If it happened before it will happen

again’ • Believing a catastrophe will happen• Emotional Reasoning

• ‘If I feel it then it must be true’

Psychological Causes of Study Related Stress

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Psychological Causes…

• Trying to please others• Being a perfectionist

• Feeling under pressure to do everything right

• Setting yourself impossible targets

• Repeating anxiety, stress, fear of failure …

• The family/ historic context for your success …

Other Causes of Study Stress

Not having effective reading Strategies. Wanting ONLY a distinction. Not having a suitable study space. “The library”. Communication difficulties (e.g. with academics &

other staff). Not coping well with self directed study. Not having a good work-life balance. Not knowing how to seek appropriate support.

Time to recap!

I’ve discussed how stress is defined and identified the 2 main mechanisms involved in stress responses which are;

The fight or flight system & Psychological causes of study related stress

I’ve also discussed the causes of study stress &now I will discuss strategies for managing

anxiety/stress.

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Strategies for Managing Anxiety/Stress

• Talk to someone - others feel the same• Call home but also get involved here

• It’s not disloyal to enjoy yourself! • Be realistic about what to expect

• Balance work and leisure• Time to adjust• You don't have to get everything • right straight away

• Food, sleep, lifestyle

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Practical approaches

Revise study skills Time management skills Set realistic and achievable goals Short term targets, longer term

strategies Recognise your achievements Talk to others, ask for help and

support

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Focusing on the task

• Concentrate on the task, not the outcome

• Break down huge activities into small manageable tasks

• Remember past successes• Time for breaks

• space to breathe and think• mind maps, scribble ideas• go for a walk, talk out loud

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Stress Management Skills

• Physical, behavioural, cognitive…• Regularly switch off

• Schedule some kind of physical activity

• Good self care • Sleep, diet, caffeine, alcohol and

nicotine• Time out without guilt• Acknowledge anxiety, rather than

denying it. • Ask: ‘are my negative thoughts

realistic?’

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Challenging negative thoughts

• Imagine them under test in a Court of Law

• Identify the negative thought (I can’t do this course, I’m going to fail…)• Ascertain the evidence For

and Against• Am I making a ‘thinking error’• Propose a more reasonable

alternative thought

In Summary…

Get on top of your time & manage it wisely. Get organised Create a good study

environment. Know your learning style: are you visual or

auditory learner. Learn good study skills to help you improve your

performance. Practice meditation, relaxation, exercise etc., this

all helps to reduce stress. Be optimistic!

More useful strategies…

Eat a healthy diet (fruit, vegetables, grains, oily fish).

Avoid processed food (sugar, high fat and salt, junk food).

Limit caffeine & stimulant use (e.g. red bull, pro plus).

Try to avoid mind or mood altering illicit drugs. Make use of complementary therapies like

aromatherapy, acupuncture or massage. Talk to someone in the Disability & Wellbeing

Service or Student Counselling Service.

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Sources of Advice & Help

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Sources of advice and help

Academic Adviser Departmental StaffDisability and Wellbeing Service Student Services Centre TLC study skills advisors Learning World Student Union and Advice Centre Medical Centre Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisors Deans Financial Support Office Faith Centre Language Centre PhD Academy Student Union

Don't wait until problems have become unmanageableIt’s OK to ask for help earlier

Disability & Well Being Service;

(Neurodiversity - ADHD, Dyslexia, Mental Health & Well Being and Disability support).

ISSA’s (exam arrangements, reasonable adjustments).

1:1 sessions with Dyslexia Advisor or Mental Health Advisor.

(disability-dyslexia@lse.ac.uk)Tel: (0207) 955 7767 (again self-refer)

Other Support Available;

MIND (www.mind.org.uk)Mental Health Charity - lots of info re stress management and mental health in general.

• Rethink (www.rethink.org) As above - (Time to Change Campaign)

Samaritans (www.samaritans.org/)Providing 24 hour confidential emotional support. Free calls!

GP (General Practitioner)

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LSE Student Counselling Service – KSW.507

Free and confidential Mainly short term counselling Book appointments in advance See Website for

Stress management handouts Self help resources Relaxation MP3’s

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Future Workshops

How to manage your time effectively: Mon 19th Nov 15.00 17:00

Location: NAB.LG.08

Stress Management Mon 16th Nov  11.00 – 1.00 pm or Mon  23rd Nov  11.00 – 1.00 pm or Mon  30th Nov   11.00 – 1.00 pm Location: TBC

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Future Workshops

Raise Your Self-Esteem: Thurs. 19th Nov    11.00 am – 1 pm Thurs 26th Nov     11.00 am – 1 pm Thurs 3rd of Dec.  11.00 am – 1 pm Location: TBC

Groups

Stress Management Group (3 weeks)

Self Esteem Group (3 weeks)

Therapy Group

Places on all groups need to be booked in advance. Please see the website, Call Ext 3627, visit KSW.507 or email student.counselling@lse.ac.uk.

Coming to the end

To be most effective inyour learning, develop goodtechniques to manage study stress.

A little bit of stress is energising but too much stress can be paralyzing.

Monitor your stress levels, spot stress signs early & do something about it quickly.

Early identification = early intervention. Work on managing your stress effectively & try

to use it to your maximum benefit!

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Finally

Learning the skills to manage stress will improve your performance both now and in the future

Imagine looking back in 5 or 10 years

Talk