What is stress?

• A lock of fit between the perceived demands of the environment and the perceived ability to cope with those demands.
• For example, some people overestimate the demands of exams and underestimate their ability to succeed.  Consequently, they suffer stress and anxiety.
   

What causes stress?

• Physical environment: noise, heat, amount of personal space.
• Too much work to do or badly planned and organised work.
• Not meeting deadlines.
• Perceived lack of control.
• Lack of sleep.
• Poor diet.
• Too much alcohol.
• Lack of exercise.
• Being too much of a perfectionist.
   

How do we react to stress?

• Physiological: increased heart rate and blood pressure, exhaustion.
• Behavioural: withdrawal, anti-social, overworking to compensate, drink and eat too much.
• Physchological: become irritable, depressed, anxious.
   

Why is stress a problem?

• Once recent study by psychologists at Coventry University found that more than half of a sample of 'A' level students found exams very or extremely stressful.  Many also reported loss of sleep and appetite, headaches, binge eating and drinking.
• Stress self evidently causes anxiety.
• Stress interferes with effective learning.
   

How to deal with stress 

• Plan and organise your work.
• Work regularly and steadily.
• Get fresh air and exercise.
• Do not cut yourself off.
• Eat regularly and sensibly.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Have some fun.
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
• Talk to parents, friends, teachers if things are getting you down.
• Get academic work in perspective.  It is not all there is to life!