What’s the difference between Stress and Pressure, and what can you do about it?

Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure. It refers to a situation where there are too many demands and not enough resources – such as time, money, or energy – to meet them.

Pressure is a situation in which you perceive that something at stake depends on the outcome of your performance.

“Cortisol is a stress chemical our body releases when we are worried or feel we’re being judged by others. Cortisol loading in our system makes us less productive and creative, causing a “crash”-type feeling after it’s left our body. We need some cortisol to create “ah-ha” moments, but if we have too much for too long, we become overloaded. This is why we need time to reset, relax, and disconnect. Did you know that we process feelings of rejection, embarrassment, and loneliness in the same part of our brain as we process physical pain?”

Remember, not all stress is negative! It can increase motivation to complete a task or succeed (hello, deadlines!), boost short-term immunity, and build resiliency for future stressful situations. Managing your stress so you can use it positively is the key.

Don’t forget! You can use DGHE’s HealthAware App 24/7, 365 days a year via the college’s Student Assistance Programme (SAP). Find details on AWS Moodle.