At Carnegie Mellon, we talk a lot about stress. In fact, when CMU students are asked which health problems negatively impact their academics, stress is the most common answer.
What exactly is stress, anyway?
Is stress really something to be concerned about?
Stress can help us achieve many positive goals. When managed well, stress helps us complete projects, meet deadlines, or perform well in sports.
However, when stress is not managed well or when we experience too much of it, stress negatively impacts our health and well-being. Chronic stress can lead to muscle tension, high blood pressure, or anxiety. Chronic stress also weakens our immune systems, making us more likely to get sick. The bodily changes caused by stress take a toll, often leading to mental and physical exhaustion and illness.
Should I eliminate stress from my life?
What is stress management and how can it help me?
Stress management is all about utilizing healthy approaches to preventing, reducing and coping with stress. Managing stress is individual, so it's important to try out different strategies and use what works for you. Check out Stress Management Resources for strategies and tools you can use.
University Health Services offers individual stress management consulations at no cost to students. Visit to schedule an appointment with a Health Promotion Specialist to create a personal plan to improve your stress management skills.