# data[].attributes.headline
     Stress Assessment and Self-Care Results

# data[].attributes.subject
     Stress Assessment and Self-Care Results

# data[].attributes.body
It is important for us to identify our stressors so that we can begin to take appropriate measures of self-care. The first questionnaire that I completed was a stress level test  located at Psycom.net/stress/test. The responses to the questions were rated as "never, sometimes, often, and almost always. I was not surprised by the results of my test. It said that I was under "high stress" and warned of the danger of acute stress becoming chronic stress and having a negative impact on my health, advising me to seek help from a professional. The questions asked about physical health, sleep, sex drive, self-soothing habits, and diet. The second questionnaire from The Institute of Functional Medicine asked questions about self-care. It had a rating scale of 0-5, with 0 being "never" and 5 being "always". Of the forty questions, I received 3 or less on twenty-five of them, a strong indication of a problem with putting myself first. The results were that I need to take care of myself better. Mainly, I need to take time to escape from the daily routine and  just have fun to help to deal with the stress in my life.

# data[].attributes.headline
What does a student's personal stress look like?

# data[].attributes.subject
What does a student's personal stress look like?

# data[].attributes.body
Nowadays, students have a lot of personal stress that jeopardizes their health and well-being if it is not effectively controlled. Older students who must balance the responsibilities of work, home, and school have an especially hard time. There are deadlines at work, due dates for school assignments, problems with cash flow, and a never ending overwhelming feeling of not having enough time to get everything done. On top of all this is an inability to find or make time for exercise. Studies have shown that people who exercise frequently experience less anxiety, depression and tension. (Sarafino, Smith, 2017). For this reason and many others, physical activity should always be a part of a student's life. Using the questions and my own responses from the self-care questionnaire to identify my issues with stress, I have found some ways of effectively coping with my stress based on both emotion and problem-focused coping strategies.

# data[].attributes.body
According to Sarafino and Smith (2017),  there are a multitude of risk factors of stress. Among the many conditions caused or worsened by stress are coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, enlarged heart, atherosclerosis, inflammation caused by substances in the blood, bacterial and viral infections, heart attack, cancer, ulcers, asthma, headaches, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcers to name a few.  If people can learn to regulate their emotions, thereby reducing stress, they can lessen their risk of a top killer, cardiovascular disease, according to a 2018 study (Roy, et al., 2018). Because emotion regulation can be taught, it is possible to reduce the incidences of these conditions by learning and practicing it.
Sarafino and Smith (2017) write, "Stress can effect behavior, which in turn can lead to illness or worsen an existing condition" (Sarafino, Smith, 2017, p.98). They argue that people who are subjected to high stress levels are prone to behave in ways that increase the odds of their getting sick or physically injured. Some of these factors that put students at risk include smoking, taking drugs, drinking alcohol, and eating a diet low in nutrition and high in fat, salt, and cholesterol. Furthermore, if acute stress is allowed to continue, it becomes a long-term issue that is capable of doing great bodily harm.

# data[].attributes.body
It is a good idea to seek out the social support you need before you actually need it. Students who are having difficulty coping have a variety of social networks at their fingertips. Religious institutions, pastors, school counselors, community groups, clubs for people with common interests, and support groups are available resources that students can take advantage of to get the support they need to recover. Sarafino and Smith (2017) write, "These organizations have the advantage of bringing together individuals with similar problems and interests, which can become the basis for sharing, helping, and friendship" (Sarafino, Smith, 2017, p.119).

# data[].attributes.headline
Using Personal Experiences and Knowledge

# data[].attributes.subject
Using Personal Experiences and Knowledge

# data[].attributes.body
Personal experience and knowledge can be used to help individuals in need of social support. This is referred to as self-disclosure, a process that helps build a trusting relationship between people. A study conducted by Lin, et al. (2020) found that people are inspired to disclose more information and commit to a specific social networking site when the environment is supportive. Indeed, the success of these sites has come from people's frequent self-disclosure and sharing of opinions. If people are influenced by the supportive environment online, it is logical to assume that when the support is given in person, by an actual caring individual, it will be even more motivating. Through this exchange of information known as self-disclosure, people can gain trust in each other because they get the impression that they are not alone in this world. With the ensuing trust, it becomes easier to create lasting, meaningful relationships with others.