A full course load of college classes, a part-time job, and a position in a women’s organization are just a few things Tacoya Woods, 23, a third year pharmacy student from Cocoa has to juggle.
Her situation is not unlike many other college students today in America.
Students are faced with many stress causing factors on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, this can lead to a variety of physical and mental problems.
“Every now and then going to school full-time and working gets overwhelming,” Woods said. “This is often attributed to stress.”
Stress is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.
Time magazine once named it the leading health problem.
Woods said she dedicates approximately 45-50 hours a week to school and work alone.
She also has other obligations including volunteer work in various Tallahassee communities and being the recording secretary for the National Council of Negro Women.
In the document, “The Effects of Childhood Stress on Health Across the Lifespan,” published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stress was found to play a role in a number of physical symptoms.
It stated that “high levels of stress hormones, including cortisol, can suppress the body’s immune response.
This can leave an individual vulnerable to a variety of infections and chronic health problems.”
“College students are notorious for partying, staying up late, and eating unhealthy foods, all of which weigh down on their bodies,”” said Lisa Hol, 22, a third year nursing student from Daytona Beach.
“Pair that with the stress of school, work, bills, and relationships and you got a recipe for disaster.”
There are different methods for combating stress.
Those methods include reading, exercising and playing with a pet.
These activities release endorphins causing the body to be in a more relaxed state.
For more information on stress visit www.cdc.gov.