Between finals and the holidays, the end of the semester can be an especially stressful time for everyone on campus.
Suzanne Delaney, a UA psychology professor, said this time of year definitely makes students more stressed than they are at any other time. She said stress not only affects students psychologically, but physically as well.
"During this time of year, students are more stressed, and their immune system can be affected," Delaney said.
Jamie Elliot, a nutritional sciences junior, said she has been particularly stressed about her Physics 102 course all semester because math is not her strongest subject.
"I feel like I don't have the time to study it the way I should," Elliot said.
Though stress does not drastically alter her mood, Elliot said stress sometimes impacts her ability to focus on her class work.
"Sometimes I get so concerned that I'm not learning something (fully), that I get freaked out and can't learn something," she said.
To relax, Elliot said she finds a quiet place on campus, particularly places where there's a "nice comfy couch" to sit on, and concentrates on her breathing.
"I tell myself, 'It's not a life or death situation,' even though I may feel that way at times," she said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site says when people become stressed, the nervous system releases hormones that sharpen the senses, quicken the pulse, and tense muscles. Infrequent episodes of stress are not harmful, but if stress is left unresolved, the body is left in a constant state of activation, which increases wear and tear on the body.
Some physical and psychological effects of stress are mood and sleep disturbances, upset stomach, headache and disturbed relationships with friends and family.
The CDC Web site states evidence suggesting that stress plays a role in chronic health problems such as cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorder and psychological disorders such as depression. Studies have also suggested a relationship between stress suicide, cancer, ulcers, and impaired immune functioning.
Delaney said stress can affect many aspects of a person's life, often in more ways than they realize.
"People who are stressed more are at a higher risk for getting into accidents," Delaney said. "Stress can affect concentration, eating, and sleeping."
Some students said they have to deal with the stress of their jobs while they prepare for finals.
In addition to being a molecular and cellular biology junior, Jennifer Diana is also a resident assistant at the Kaibab-Huachuca Residence Hall.
Diana said she is particularly stressed out about the three cumulative finals for her genetics, organic chemistry, and physics courses because her professors "like to teach up until the last moment" of classes.
"They don't give you much of a break and expect you to take the two-hour cumulative final," Diana said.
Diana said she does not have much time to spend with her friends or boyfriend. When she does have time to take a break, Diana said she likes to go shopping, go to movies with her friends or go home to Phoenix to make herself feel better.
"When I have free time, I like to read, but I haven't been able to take care of myself the way I want to," Diana said.
Lexie Ettinger, a political science freshman, said she has definitely felt more stressed recently due to finals and the holidays, but like many students she feels it is not anything new.
"I have been taking finals since eighth grade. I am used to dealing with this kind of stress," Ettinger said.
Ettinger said she has her own way of dealing with things when they start to get too stressful.
"When things get stressful at this time of year I like to go to the gym and workout," Ettinger said. "It always makes me feel better."
-Kylee Dawson contributed to this report.