Is This Normal Stress?

 In my last post, I talked about normal stress and how it can have an effect on time management. We know that stress is a normal part of life and it definitely can be expected given the current state of the world. It is not surprising that we may feel now that our productivity has diminished or our ability to focus has suffered due to the pandemic and all of the hardships it has presented. One thing that I want to address though is how different kinds of stress could also be the reason for the things we are feeling.

I will begin by saying that I am not giving anyone medical advice and I am in no way a medical professional. I can only give advice from what I know. 

Another quite common kind of stress we may experience in our lives is traumatic stress. This is the kind of stress that can happen after a traumatic event, like a death or an accident. This kind of stress is more intense than regular/routine stress. The last kind of stress you may experience is long-term stress, which is where your body doesn't fully return to its normal state. This is an issue because it can cause other health problems, like heart disease, high blood pressure, and even depression.

So, what do you do if you think you are experiencing one of these kinds of stress? One thing you may do is to look for a mental health professional in your surrounding area and seek treatment that way. Another thing you can do is look for what your university has in terms of counseling. I know that my school has counseling services that you can talk to if you feel like the stress you are under is having an effect on your schoolwork. They can then help you speak to your professors about that and perhaps come to an agreement to help you out. It is always a good idea to ask for help, and oftentimes, your professors will want to help you or will accommodate you in any way they can. 

We are all in this pandemic together and we all know that it has not been easy. It is okay to ask for help. If you feel like your stress is more than regular/routine stress, please, don't be afraid to ask for help.