4 A's of Stress Management
It’s NORMAL to feel stressed, especially as a college student. In fact, good stress (eustress) is a fundamental requirement for growth and increases productivity. However, if your stress levels remain elevated (distress), it can take a toll on your health. The point in which eustress becomes distress differs for everyone, so you need to be sensitive to the early warning symptoms and signs that suggest that you're experiencing a stress overload.
After becoming aware of your symptoms of stress and stressors (real or imagined situations and circumstances that are perceived to be a threat or that which causes stress), you CAN increase your ability to effectively cope with stress by using healthy coping mechanisms, such as applying the 4 A’s of stress management:
- Avoid.
- Alter.
- Accept.
- Adapt.
