Stress, especially constant stress, is the most underrated source of disease conditions, particularly chronic disease. It is underrated because it is so difficult to measure and demonstrate. And it is difficult to measure and demonstrate because it occurs so differently per individual and per situation.
What we do know, however, is that we all are subjected to stress. Stress is a natural response to situations that occur every day. As such, stress is unavoidable – but not always a bad thing.
As a natural response in the body, like the immune response, the stress response was designed to and can actually support higher performance in times of need. The negative impact on our health is felt when we are constantly bombarded with demands, subject to others’ expectations and distracted and worried by others’ perceptions and opinions.
In the halls of higher education, academic performance stress can be acute and constant. It can be self-imposed or caused by expectations, perceptions and opinions of those who may play a key role in whether or not we “make the grade.”
Ethnic minorities and other underrepresented groups tend to suffer from an additional and unique set of daily stressors that are felt simply because of their particular background. In fact, the American Psychological Association correlates the following four leading chronic stressors with health disparities suffered by individuals of diverse backgrounds: perceived and actual discrimination, environmental stress, day-to-day social and economic stress and acculturative stress, the feelings of tension and anxiety that accompany efforts to adapt to the orientation and values of the dominant culture.
Add all of this up and, for diverse individuals in particular, it is a virtual certainty that chronic stress will negatively impact health outcomes.
Chronic stress wreaks havoc on our bodies, becomes distress and causes burnout and breakdown – unless we become aware and intentionally take action.
