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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 1993)
Lis \ PY I I IK Stress reduction key to survival I’ve got to ask this now, at the beginning of the term, because later you will be too caught up with the familiar backlog of home work, papers and finals to answer me. So I will ask now: Have you been constipated lately? How about fatigued? Have you suffered from any headaches, stom achaches or pains in your shoulders, neck or back? If you have had any of these symptoms this past week and you are enrolled in classes this five week term, you, like myself, may be suffering from an acute case of school. School? Yes, school. Most students will agree that “school” is nearly synonymous with “stress,” because rarely are classes found without it. And stress is directly linked to such psychosomatic illness es as those listed above, as well as to many others. In fact, some doctors have estimated that as many as 75 to 90 percent of health concerns result from or arc influenced by stress. E.ven illnesses of greater severity, includ ing heart disease, asthma, rheumatiod arthritis and cancer, are today thought to be influenced by stress. In light of this, it seems that we should be a lot more careful about the amount stress we arc willing to en dure. In fact, maybe we’d all be better off quilling school.. Well, maybe not. Quilling school would probably create more stress than il would dim inish. In place of the stress of homework and tests would be decreased job opportunities, un employment or career dissatisfaction and the same mounds of unpaid bills we face as students, without the ben efit of low-interest or interest-free student loans. What, then, arc we to do about health-endangering stress? Well, perhaps we could reduce it by changing the system. For example, perhaps we could make rules prohib iting studying any more than 40 hours per week. Perhaps areas on campus could be designated as “no studying” /.ones. Perhaps warnings could be printed on textbooks to inform stu dents of the books’ stress contents and associated health risks. It seems that we should be a lot more careful about the amount stress we are willing to endure. In fact, maybe we’d all be better off quitting school.... Perhaps ihcsc ideas sound ridicu lous. And they probably are because they assume the whole problem of the stress incurred by students is the fault of the system, not the student. Obvi ously, the system is not perfect and there are some things that could be changed—and S HO UL D be changed — to lower the amount of stress that students face. However, it takes a long time for a system to change and, in the meantime, it makes sense to also look at ways in which individuals can personally reduce the negative effects of stress. For example, through the use of stress reduction programs. * There arc a variety of techniques that we students could use to reduce stress in our lives. None of them take a great deal of lime and many of them arc taught through the health center, right here on campus. Yet most students, myself includ ed, don't engage in a regular program of stress management. In fact, iust this summer 1 asked a class of about 50 students how many used some sort of stress reduction program and only three people raised their hands. Part of the reason for this may be that we don't lake thccffccls of stress serious ly because we can so easily blame our problems and ills on other sources. For example, I'd personally rather believe that any stomachaches I get these days arc from something I ate rather than from being nervous about some little test. Another reason why some people may not practice stress management is that they think their stress will end when school does. But even if all college graduates were fortunate enough to find good jobs, most would continue to experience stress from other sources such as from having a family and adjusting to a new career. Real ly, nearly everyone could ben efit from practicing stress manage ment, whether they are students or not. Furthermore, if everyone rou tinely practiced stress management and learned to change other illness causing lifestyle factors, society as a whole would probably also reap great benefits. For example, one of today’s lop political concerns is health care re form. Most of the debate surrounding this issue seems to revolve around finding the best way to “reel in” costs and make high quality health care available to everyone who needs it. But most of the proposed solutions seem to focus on how we should change the system. Little if any auen lion has been paid to what individuals may do in support of the cause. It’s true that our current system needs to be changed. But imagine what would happen if, in addition to changing the system, we eliminated all health problems primarily result ing from stress and other lifestyle factors such as smoking, overeating, and inactivity. I’m not an economics expert, but it makes sense that if we were really able to do this, it would decrease the demand for health care and thus both decrease the price of health care and increase its availability. It’s probably not possible to elim inate all psychosomatic illnesses, but reducing them as much as possible would definitely benefit individuals and probably society as a whole. There fore, it seems my social duty to take some reading about stress manage ment and go on a vacation. Which is exactly what 1 intend to do. Pytlik Is a graduate psychology student and a Summer Daly Nebraskan columnist. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Freedom of the press editorial absurd Your concern about the loo gener ous interpretation by the media of their rights under Freedom of the Press is absurd (Enough Press, 7/8/93). What about Roger Bjorklund's too gener ous interpretation of his rights as a citizen of the United States? And what about Candice Harms' right to pull into the parking lot of her parents' r apartment building at nigh land not be bothered? The outcome of the first abuse is that I am presented with too much information (fact or otherwise) about a criminal and the crime he commit ted. So what? The outcome of the second abuse is the loss of Candice Harms’ life. There is no comparison. It makes no difference to me if his trial takes place in Libya, Lima or Lincoln. Just let it take place quickly so that not one more cent of my taxes is spent on the process of ensuring Roger Bjorkluna a fair trial. Julie Russell Lincoln Editor Jeff Singer, 472-1766 Features Editor Jeremy Fitzpatrick Copy Desk Editor Jaff Zalany Photo Chief Damon Lm Cartoonist David Bedders Graphics Artist Scott Monroa General Manager Production Manager Advertising Manager Senior Acct. Exec. Publications Board Chairman . Professional Adviser Dan ShattH Katherine Pollcky Jay Cruse Bruce Kroasa Doug Fiedler, 472-2586 Don Walton, 473*7301 FAX NUMBER 47M 761 The Daily Nebraskan(USPS 144-069) » published by the UNL Publications Board, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St.. Lincoln. NE, Monday through Friday during the academic year; weekly during summer sessions. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763 between 0 a m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public also has access to Use Publications Board. For information, contact Doug Fiedler, 4 12 ??>88 Subscription price is $50 for one yosr Postmaster: Send address changes to the Dally Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34.1400 R St.,Lincoln. NE 68586-0448. Second class postage paid at Lincoln. NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1M3 DAILY NEBRASKAN rite Back warns to hear from you. If you want to voice your opinion about an article that appears in the newspaper, let us know. Just write ■> brief letter to the editor and sign it (don’t forget your student ID number) and -ul it to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union. 1400 ‘R’ Street, Lincoln, 168588-0448, or stop by the office in the basement of the Nebraska Union i visit with us. We're all ears. h "'rthday ^ Saturday, July 17 10 AM-6PM Sunday, July 18 12PM-6PM Cosmic Comics Bast Park Plaza SAVE 15%-95% Collector Comics, New Comics, Graphic Novels, Adventure Games, Miniatures, and LOTS MORE HEY LOOK!! 15% off eveiything at the COSMIC COMICS at EDGEWOOD PLAZA Enter the NEW VOICES LOGO CONTEST The Lied Center is looking for an identity to compliment the unique, somewhat intimate performances at the Carson Theater this season. We’re calling this series “New Voices’* and the Lied Center would like you to design the logo! The winner will receive a Mountain Bike from Blues Bike and Fitness Center ($500 value) Official Rules: I Oflktol farm* arc available at the Lied Center Box Office. 12th and R Streets. 11 am to 5 pm. Monday-Friday. 2. Contest is open to all ages. 3. You may enter as many times as you wish. 4. AN entries become the property at the Lied Center for Performing Arts 3. The winning entry wiN be posted at the Lied Center Box Office beginning Aug. 9, 1993. i. The Lied Center reserves the right to make chaises to the winning entry. 7. The decision at the judges Is final. B. Lied Center employees and their families are not eligible to win. B. All entries mutit be postmarked by July IB, 1993 to be eligible to win. Send entries to: NEW VOICES LOGO CONTEST Lied Center for Performing Arts 301 North 12th Lincoln, NE 68588-0151 For more information call 402.472.4747 UKDCUNtteK