Lisa Schrader, MPH, MCHES
Director of Health Promotion
What does stress look like?
Physical symptoms
Behavioral symptoms
Mental symptoms
Emotional symptoms
Stress Levels of MTSU Students
60
48.9
50
40.2
40
34.6 32.6
30
Males
16.5
20
11.6
10
0
4.2
0.8
No stress
6.5
4
Less than
average
stress
Average
stress
More than Tremendous
average
stress
stress
Females
What causes stress?
Is stress bad?
Stress and negative outcomes
-1/3 of students reported that stress negatively
impacted their academic performance
-90% of doctor’s visits are stress-related
-Stress is related to:








Depression
Diabetes
Hair loss
Heart disease
Obesity
Sexual dysfunction
Ulcers
Cancer
Stress is actually neutral.
“Stress is the body’s physical response to a
perceived demand or threat.”
 Fight or flight
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqRoAXXQ6OU&feature=related)
 Good Stress/ Bad Stress Performance Curve
What can we do about it?
 Do something about the stressor
 Manage the symptoms
 Deep breathing
 Progressive relaxation
 Meditation
 Visualization
 Massage
 Exercise
 Humor
 Hobbies
Long-term Stress Management
 Think positively
 Dispute irrational beliefs
 Build time management skills
 Practice assertive communication
 Talk things out with someone
 Eat well
 Be physically active
 Sleep
 Eliminate or reduce alcohol, tobacco, drug use
Impact on Sleep
 Quality vs. Quantity
 Stages of sleep
 REM- where we dream & where memories and learning
are processed
 Stage 4- deep sleep
 Effects of altered sleep
 Too little REM- sleepiness, anxiety, irritability
 Too much REM- fatigue
Campus Resources:
 Counseling Services, KUC 326S
 Health Services, REC
 www.mtsu.edu/healthservices
 Health Promotion
 615-494-8704
 lisa.schrader@mtsu.edu
 www.facebook.com/mthealthpromotion
Thank you!
Questions?