By
Christian Richardson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Alternative methods such as mindfulness meditation, hatha yoga
The UA psychology department, the Program in Integrative Medicine and the Campus Health Service is conducting a six-week study to find the best way to fight stress.
"Your body is a great teacher, it lets you know when something isn't right," said Lynn Ferro, the study's coordinator.
Researchers have found students tend to ignore symptoms of stress because they expect it to pass with time.
Poor study skills, test anxiety and relationship problems cause stress, said Jill Grassman, integrative health counselor at Campus Health Service. But she added that stress occurs inside the body, not outside the body. Some of the symptoms of stress are nervousness and loss of appetite.
The distress study will place stressed students into three groups.
The first group participates in mindfulness meditation, which teaches students how to be more conscious and aware of their emotions. The awareness is taught through three methods: sitting meditation, body scan and hatha yoga, Ferro said.
Sitting meditation is an awareness of body sensations and emotions. Body scan is a progressive movement from the toes to the head. Hatha yoga consists of stretching exercises used to strengthen the musculoskeletal system.
"Mindfulness meditation has been widely used and widely tested," Ferro said.
The second group participates in Johrei, which is a Japanese exercise that focuses energy. This is the first testing of Johrei, but the practice has been used to relieve stress, she said.
The third group is a control and receives no treatment, but they receive $25 for their time at the end of the study, she added.
About 40 students were involved in a similar six-week study in January. Ferro said they found the alternative methods decrease depression and anxiety, Ferro said.
"They're far more relaxed, far more confident, better able to cope, they feel empowered," she said. "They feel more hope."
The results are evaluated through a pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaire, she said.
Ferro said they are recruiting until Oct. 12 for students to participate in the current study. She said there is no criteria for students who want to participate, students just have to be experiencing stress.
However, students that are border-line suicidal are excluded from the study, said Ferro. She said the techniques the study uses wouldn't be helpful to those students. Students that are suicidal need help beyond what the Campus Health Service offers.
These students are evaluated thoroughly because they may need the treatment of a psychiatrist or a hospital, Grassman said.
For some students, the problem of stress is relieved once the exam or deadline has passed.
"The problem moves to something else, and they feel better," Grassman said.
Some UA students said procrastination is their main cause of stress.
Ned Milin, an economics junior, said he gets a nervous feeling on exams because he puts off studying until the last minute.
"I think 95 percent of the students procrastinate in some way or other," he said
Milin said he relieves his stress by going to the recreation center and playing golf.
Patricia Gutierrez, a Spanish senior, said she has the same problem.
"I'm always procrastinating, so that causes a lot of stress," she said.
She added that she hasn't ever felt the need to talk to someone at the campus health about her level of stress, she just ignores it until it goes away.
"I just hang out at home and relax," Gutierrez said. "I try not to think of the tests."
