Frenetic Brain

All college students experience occasional stress. For some, it happens before taking a test. For others, it might occur before going on a first date. In small doses, stress can be beneficial. It can give a little push, motivating students to do their best (or to be on their best behavior). Stress drives students to study for final exams when they would rather be checking their Facebook page or hanging out with friends.

Excessive and chronic stress kills brain cells and impairs memory. While small doses of stress can be beneficial, too much stress can have devastating effects on the brain. When stressed, the body releases cortisol which travels into the brain, binding to the receptors in the neurons. The neurons react by admitting calcium through channels in their membrane. Chronic and elevated stress overloads the neurons with calcium causing them to fire too frequently and die.

The over-secretion of cortisol in the brain impairs memory by preventing access to existing memories and hindering the ability to memorize new information. Additionally, the increase in cortisol suppresses the immune system, increasing the risk of infections and allergies. During exposure to chronic stress, the hippocampus shows shrinkage as individual nerve cells become shorter and less branched, hindering neural communication. By contrast, the amygdala, the part of the brain that regulates fear and emotion, becomes larger and more active resulting in increased anxieties and fears.

 

Learn to recognize the warning signs of stress

Physical Symptoms

physical symptoms

Cognitive Symptoms

cognitive symptoms

Emotional Symptoms

emotional symptoms

Behavioral Symptoms

behavioral symptoms

Headaches or backaches
Memory problems
Anxious/agitated
Sleeping too much or too little
Muscle tension and stiffness
Inability to concentrate
Restlessness
Procrastinating, neglecting responsibilities
Indigestion
Anxious or racing thoughts
Feeling tense/inability to relax
Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)
Insomnia
Constant worrying
Feeling overwhelmed
Overreacting to unexpected problems
Increased heart rate
Fearful anticipation
Irritability, impatience
Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
Nervous tics
Trouble thinking clearly
General unhappiness
Overdoing activities (e.g. shopping)
Skin breakouts
Seeing only negative
Sense of loneliness and isolation
Picking fights with others
Weight gain or loss
Indecisiveness
Short temper
Using alcohol or medication to relax
 
Loss of objectivity
 
Acting impulsively
 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learn to manage your stress by setting limits with yourself and others • Keep your expectations realistic and choose your own goals • Be positive and develop a positive support system • Learn to anticipate potentially stressful situations so that you can prepare for them.

Here are some additional tips for reducing stress:

1. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day
2. Get 7-8 hours of sleep every night
3. Manage your time wisely. Develop an efficient and orderly routine.
4. Eat a healthy and balanced diet
5. Take a deep breath. Proper breathing is one of the best ways to reduce immediate stress
6. Talk to a trusted friend or a counselor to help you put your problems into perspective.
7. Seek the comfort and strength that only the Lord can provide.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 
Professor Jud Lake

SEEING GOD THROUGH STRESS (Video)

Professor Jud Lake, ThD, DMin of Southern Adventist University presents a remarkable message entitled, "Seeing God Through Stress".

 
         
 
   

"From Stress to Joy"

Author: Gillian Bethel

Introduction
BEYOND FIXES FOR STRESS

How would you like a vacation on a palm-fringed tropical island right now? Would it remove your stress? Temporarily, no doubt, but the stress would be back. More practical for most of us would be an evening spent in a relaxed setting, doing something we enjoy. But for how long would that relieve our stress? When it comes to lasting stress management, we definitely need something beyond quick fixes.


A wealth of websites, articles, and books already exist to help us conquer stress. But often they treat stress like a virus that can be isolated and remedied. This booklet is different in two ways: It looks at stress as part of a life story, and it shows how God intervenes in the life and not just in the stress.

Each one of us is unique, and our personal stress levels depend on how we react to all the events of our lives. Because stressors—the triggers of stress—are interwoven with the fabric of our daily experience, true stress management requires a change in the way we relate to life as a whole.

Christianity holds the key to managing this stress. But God is interested in doing more for us than just helping us handle stressors.... READ MORE

 

Amazing Facts: Online Library

   

Epstein Stress Management Inventory for Individuals (ESMI-i): View

BrainVisor – Protect Your Brain
BrainVisor does not provide medical or psychological advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for your doctor or other health care professional's care.

BrainVisor is not responsible for the reliability, accuracy, timeliness, usefulness, or completion of the information found on the linked sites.

Contact us at brainvisor@aol.com

BrainVisor Director:
Jim Wampler, PsyD, EdS

Webmaster: R. Anthony Kimbley

Graphic Artist: Justin Oeftger

Interactive Brain: Gary Homidas

BAW Student Coordinators: Anjali Filinovich / Timothy Caran

TBI Awareness & Prevention Assistant: Joshua Salguero

 

© Copyright BrainVisor. All rights reserved.