67 66 Chapter Five: Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties Chapter Five: Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties Emotional Distress Anxiety and Stress Anxiety and stress are common psychological problems among university students. The causes of anxiety and stress range widely, from external factors, such as mounting academic pressure, relationship conflicts, family concerns, financial difficulties and life changes, to internal factors, such as irrational thoughts and beliefs and negative attitudes. Almost all university students experience occasional worry and stress. More often, it is mild, intermittent or temporary in the manifestation of normal development issues. An adequate level of anxiety and stress, also called eustress, where students usually perceive their stressors as challenges, rather than threats, can enhance their efficiency and performance in both study and work. On the contrary, when worry and stress become overwhelming or unmanageable, this may be indicative of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are distinguished from everyday worry or nervousness, by being intense and persistent (e.g., typically lasting more than six months), alongside with other physical symptoms and avoidant behaviors that interfere with one’s daily functioning. “When worry and stress become overwhelming or unmanageable, this may be indicative of an anxiety disorder.” e.g. e.g. e.g. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS • Subjective feelings of being overwhelmed or being on edge; constant and excessive worrying and restlessness; increased moodiness, frustration, or hostility • Increased physical complaints that cannot be adequately explained in medical or biological term muscle tension, diarrhea or stomach ache, nausea, dizziness, pounding heartbeats, chest pain, shortness of breath, trembling and fatigue • Problems with thinking and cognitive capacity increased forgetfulness, racing thoughts or distractibility, poor judgment, difficulty in making decisions and seeing only the negative • Behavioral change change in eating or sleeping patterns, problems of procrastination, social isolation or withdrawal, increased use of alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs, and nervous habits such as nail biting and pulling out hairs
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