Read the dialogues and practice them.

 

A: Gabriel, how are you doing?

G: I’m tired. I can’t concentrate on my work. In two weeks there will be an examination, and I still have classes to attend, a part-time job, and my social life.

A: I see. You look exhausted. Why don’t you go home and have a good sleep? It really helps!

G: I can’t sleep properly. I feel overwhelmed.

A: You are certainly in need of help. You should visit an experienced counselor. After a few weeks of counseling, you will be in control of your life again.

G: May be you’re right. Going there right now. Bye.

A: Bye. See you soon.

 

 

A: Good morning, Dr. Selye. Today we’re going to speak about college students and high levels of stress they experience.

Dr. Selye: Good morning. Yes, stressful experiences make students develop different strategies, such as to adapt and survive.

A: Dr. Selye, please, tell us what stress is? Is it necessarily harmful?

Dr. Selye: To begin with, we consider the adaptation process as an integrating part of living beings. In fact, having stress means being alive, although stress is usually not associated with pleasure, satisfaction or success.

A: Yes, I’ve heard about your concept of " health and stress". If I’m not mistaken dealing with stress does not mean having to eliminate stress, but rather learning to handle or administer it.

Dr. Selye: Quite right you are! Stress is a protective response. In certain occasions it can be beneficial, as it allows us to cope with and overcome difficult situations that require all our energy. In addition, in many situations stress can even make us feel good.

A: A little bit of stress may be unavoidable and good too, but too much of stress may be harmful for both our physical and mental health.

Dr. Selye: That’s why we must take care of ourselves. Extremes are dangerous as the British say.

 

A: How is it getting on at university, Kate?

K: Oh, I’ve never thought it could be so stressful.

A: Going to university or college is exciting, to my mind. You meet new friends, become more self-confident, and get good grades.

K: Yes, but all this can put a lot of pressure on you and it’s sometimes difficult to overcome some of issues you face as you begin your university or college life.

A: What problems do you have?

K: I have some difficulties with studying. I’m always pressed for time.

A: First of all, practice self-care: eat a healthy diet, exercise, get enough sleep and take care of your appearance. Try to realize that studying is more than cracking open a textbook and reading. Ask questions and think logically. Speak clearly and loudly, especially when you have something you want to say. Your opinions are just as important as the next person’s.

K: You know I’m quite shy and it’s a problem for me to take risks. Though it seems to me trying new things is a good opportunity for learning and growing.

A: Sure! Don’t be afraid to fail or embarrass yourself. If you don’t do as well as you had hoped, so what! Let it go, you can’t win them all. Just know you tried your best and had fun.

K: Thanks a lot for your support.

A: Don’t mind. It’s ok to “vent” once in a while; that’s what friends are for.

 

Mum: How are you, honey? Have you made friends at university?

D: Mummy, so difficult it is!

M: But there are lots of bright, creative, and energetic people at university; some of them may become your life-long friends!

D: You know, meeting new people and building a friendship is a little bit scary for me.

M: Don’t wait for people to come talk to you, darling. Invite someone to go for coffee with you or consider going to a common area like your residence lounge to do homework. These people can become study buddies or coffee mates.

D: Thanks Mum. It’s a good piece of advice! I’m going to join a sports team or a club. I think this is the easiest way to meet people with similar interests.

M: I’m proud of you, sweetie. I’m sure you’ll make friends. Just remember the golden rule “Be interested in people and ask about them. Don’t just talk about yourself, strive for true dialogue and make eye contact”.

D: O.k., Mummy. I’ll do my best.

 

2. Answer the questions:

Recognizing Stress

1. What is stress?

2. What causes stress?

3. How do you recognize stress in your life?

4. Have you been under stress recently?

5. How does stress affect you?

6. Do you have a kind of red warning flag that indicates too much stress?

7. How do you feel emotionally?

8. Do you feel nervous or worried about stressful situations?

 

Helping Others

1. Have you ever helped someone who was feeling stressful?

2. What did you do?

3. Did you give them advice?

4. Did you listen to them?

5. Did you do most of the talking?

6. Did you take some action to help them?

7. What are characteristics of a good counselor?

8. Is it necessary to have shared the same experience?

9. Is it important to be an expert?

10. Is it important to be patient?

 

Healthy Stress

1. Do you think stress is ever good, useful, or necessary?

2. Why or why not?

3. Do you play games or sports that are sometimes stressful?

4. When can stress be a good thing?

5. If you are playing a sport and your team is losing, does it give you extra energy?

6. Does stress make you feel more alive?

7. Is your home life stressful?

8. Are you busy at home?

9. Can you relax at home?

10. Do you enjoy having discussions about politics with other people who have different opinions?

11. Do you like to argue about different ways to do things at work or at home?

 

Stressful Situations

1. Are there situations that you find stressful?

2. Do you feel tense when you meet someone for the first time?

3. Do you get nervous if you have to make a speech?

4. Do you suffer from stress when you have too much work to do?

5. Do you work or study for long hours under stressful conditions?

6. Does the place you live have a low-stress environment?

7. Can you be alone as much as you like?

8. Can you be with friends as often as you like?

9. Is it easy for you to make decisions about important things?

10. Can you relax when you are sleeping away from home?

11. In what kinds of situations do you observe other people feeling stressed?

12. What are some situations that you enjoy?

13. What are some situations that make you feel stressful?

14. How can you eliminate stressful situations?

 

Living Stress Free

1. How can you live a stress free life?

2. Can you give five suggestions that would be inexpensive?

3. Can you give five suggestions for children?

4. Can you give five suggestions for the wintertime?

5. Give us suggestions for making university life less stressful.

6. When stressful do you like to listen to a certain kind of music?

7. Does it help to go shopping or take a long walk?

8. Do you like to be alone or be with other people?

9. Do you eat more or eat less? Do certain colors make you feel happier?

10. Do you always follow the same pattern to relieve stress or do you try different things?

11. What are some positive ways people deal with stress?

12. What are some negative ways people deal with stress?

13. How do you deal with stress?

14. When was the most stressful time of your life?

15. Did you learn anything from that experience?

16. What do you think is the greatest cause of stress for most people?

17. What is your greatest cause of stress?

18. Do you deal with stress differently that your parents do/did? If so, how?

19. Do you know of anyone who likes to break things or become violent when they are stressed?

20. What have they broken?

21. What kind of violence do they do?

22. What is the most stressful job you can think of?

23. What is the least stressful job you can think of?

24. Which would you choose: A stressful job with very high pay or a relaxing job with considerably low pay? Why?

25. Is being single less stressful than married life?

26. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

27. How do you reduce stress in your life?

28. Do you think they would be considered good or bad ways of dealing with stress?

 

3. Role-play the following situations.

1. Your friend is a first-year student. She / he has got some problems with his / her health. You’re a senior student. Ask your friend about his / her health problems; his / her daily routine; timetable; eating habits. Her / his answers give you a clue that your friend is experiencing ыtress. Give him / her some advice to get over it.

2. You are a psychologist speaking about stress. Ask the students what stresses them out; if they are stressed at the moment; what they do to relieve their stress; how dangerous they think stress is; who they give stress to; who the most stressed person they know is and why they think so; if they would ever go to stress management classes. Offer to attend such classes.

3. You’re stressful. You feel tired during the day, can’t sleep well at night, your stomach hurts, you get angry easily. You mother tries to help you asking you about your problems. Tell her about your worries. Your mother gives suggestions for making your life less stressful: going shopping or taking a long walk; listening to a certain kind of music; having a rest. Decide what can help you to eliminate stressful situations and relieve stress.

 

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