Ask a Prof: Stress: Blame it in the Brain

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Janine Scheiner, visiting professor of psychology at the College and adjunct professor at Dartmouth Medical School, teaches the popular Abnormal Psychology class. asks how abnormal perfectionism really is.

Q: What kind of abnormal behavioral patterns can result from serious pressure and stress?

A: People respond to stress in a variety of different ways depending on their physiology, the way they view the stress and their coping strategies. Many people respond to overwhelming stress by excessive worry, agitation, poor concentration and sleep problems. People may eat excessively or lose their appetites. People may withdraw from others or become irritable and weepy.

Each person "does" stress differently, and individuals are likewise unique in what they define as stressful. Acute or short-term stress is often manageable. Long term stress, such of that experienced by folks fighting in Iraq, is much more damaging.

Q: What makes college such a "pressure cooker" for some students, and why do some handle it so much better? Does it have to do with how we're internally "wired," or how we respond to various stimuli and stress in our environments?

A: Both. People's bodies and minds respond to stress in a variety of ways. Some people are resilient and have good coping skills. They view stressors as growth promoting opportunities, and they engage their problem solving skills to master the situation in an active way. They also contextualize the experience by understanding that the stress is temporary and situation specific, and that however the situation is resolved, it won't be the end of the world. They remind themselves that they can achieve their long term goals with hard work and persistence, even if they have an off day or test or interview.

In addition, they work hard to protect their health by eating and sleeping well, and getting exercise. However if the stress is chronic, then healthy adaptation will be much more difficult.

Q: How can an individual know that their friend may need help and that their pressure has reached peak levels?

A: Folks need help when their issues adversely affect their functioning, or when their level of subject distress is so extreme that quality of life is adversely affected. If a friend feels "burned out" then that's often a sign that professional assistance is needed.

Q: Is there some amount of stress and pressure that is optimal for success and good performance, before reaching unhealthy levels?

A: Yes, there's a curve referred to as the Yerkes-Dodgson curve in psychology that demonstrates that optimized performance is generally associated with moderate reported levels of anxiety. Too mellow and one may not be sufficiently motivated to optimize one's performance, while feeling very anxious will likely cloud one's thinking and impair one's performance.

Q: What are the worst manifestations of serious pressure and stress in college students?

A: Being totally overwhelmed and unable to carry out the daily activities required to function in college.

Q: What are strategies to stay healthy and happy in the face of freshman year stresses, junior year blues, or corporate recruiting pain?

A: Good health, regular exercise, eating well, sleeping well, the support of friends and family, understanding that stress is temporary, reminding one's self that you will always have another shot at achieving your long-term goals -- in short, understanding that sometimes you will have a bad day, but that you will survive and overcome your obstacles with dedication, hard work, an optimistic attitude and the passage of time.

Q: Are certain people predisposed to this type of problem, whether it is an obsessive compulsive perfectionistic response to pressure or another manifestation?

A: Yes, there are certain constitutional and personality traits, as well as likely genetic vulnerabilities, that predispose an individual to have difficulty managing stress.

That said, anxiety disorders and depression are two of the most highly treatable conditions in mental health today. So, if you are having these problems get help, and in the vast majority of the cases, you will feel better and cope better in the future.

Christine is a staff writer for The Mirror.

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