Are you aware of when your body tells you that it’s stressed out from EPPP study? Perhaps stress has become a normal part of how you function daily, making it more difficult to notice what your body is trying to communicate to you. Though some warning signs of stress can go unnoticed, the damaging effects will not.
According to the American Psychology Association (APA) in Listening to the warning signs of stress, “stress is your body’s natural reaction to any kind of demand that disrupts life as usual.” The looming EPPP test date and studying long hours in general are enough demand to cause stress.
Though small amounts of stress can be necessary to give you the drive to get studying done, too much stress “is known to contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and suicide” as stated by the APA.
Because the effects of too much stress cannot easily be ignored, it is important to know the warning signs that can easily be ignored if you are unaware of what they are. The APA compiled a list of warning signs to watch for:
- “Headaches, muscle tension, neck or back pain
- Upset stomach
- Dry mouth
- Chest pains, rapid heartbeat
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite or overeating “comfort foods”
- Increased frequency of colds
- Lack of concentration or focus
- Memory problems or forgetfulness
- Jitters
- Irritability
- Short temper
- Anxiety”
Check in with your body today. What is it telling you? If you are experiencing any warning signs, check out the stress relief strategies we have provided in a previous article, here. Once you’ve worked towards relieving your current stress, take steps to avoid becoming overly stressed in the future by learning when to take a break and how to rest productively .
Stress is inevitable. Being overly-stressed is damaging. Knowing how you respond to stress by recognizing the warning signs can lead to better stress management. Successful EPPP studying begins with taking care of yourself.
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