Although the De Anza Health Office has long been an advocate of stress management, stress, tension, and burnout are still common complaints of students, faculty, and staff alike. On account of this,

we have come to the following conclusion :

YOU ALL WANT TO STAY STRESSED ... because ...

• STRESS HELPS YOU SEEM IMPORTANT
  Anyone as stressed as you must be working very hard and, therefore, is probably doing something very crucial.

• IT HELPS YOU TO MAINTAIN PERSONAL DISTANCE AND AVOID INTIMACY
  Anyone as busy as you are certainly can't be expected to form emotional attachments to anyone. And let's face it, you're not much fun to be around anyway.

• IT HELPS TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITIES
  Obviously you're too stressed to be given any more work. This gets you off the hook for all the mundane chores; let someone else take care of them.

• IT GIVES YOU A CHEMICAL RUSH
  Stress might be considered a cheap thrill, and you can give yourself a "hit" anytime you choose. But be careful, you might get addicted to your own adrenaline.

• IT HELPS YOU AVOID SUCCESS
  Why risk being "successful" when by simply staying stressed you can avoid all of that? Stress can keep your performance level low enough that success won't ever be a threat.

• STRESS ALSO LETS YOU KEEP YOUR AUTHORITARIAN MANAGEMENT STYLE
  The authoritarian style of "Just do what I say!" is generally permissible under crisis conditions. If you maintain a permanently stressed crisis atmosphere, you can justify an authoritarian style all the time.

• HOW to stay stressed? - some clinically proven methods :

  1. NEVER EXERCISE
     Exercise wastes a lot of time could be spent worrying.

  2. EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT
     Hey, if cigarette smoke can't cleanse your system, a balanced diet isn't likely to.

  3. GAIN WEIGHT
     Work hard at staying at least pounds over your recommended weight.

  4. TAKE PLENTY OF STIMULANTS
     The old standards of caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and cola will continue to do the job just fine.

  5. AVOID "WOO-WOO" PRACTICES
     Ignore the evidence suggesting that meditation, prayer, deep breathing, and/or mental imaging help to reduce stress. **Some editing done on this one.

  6. GET RID OF YOUR SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEM
     Let the few friends who are willing to tolerate you know thatconcern yourself with friendships only if you have time, and you never have time. If a few people persist in trying to be your friend, avoid them.

  7. PERSONALIZE ALL CRITICISM
     Anyone who criticizes any aspect of your work, family, dog, house, or car is mounting a personal attack. Don't take time to listen, be offended, then return the attack!

  8. THROW OUT YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR
     Staying stressed is no laughing matter, and it shouldn't be treated as one.

  9. MALES AND FEMALES ALIKE - BE MACHO
     Never ever ask for help, and if you want it done right, do it yourself!

  10. BECOME A WORKAHOLIC
      Put work before everything else, and be sure to take work home evenings and weekends. Keep reminding yourself that vacations are for sissies.

  11. DISCARD GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS
      Schedule in more activities every day than you can possibly get done and then worry about it all whenever you get a chance.

  12. PROCRASTINATE
      Putting things off to the last second always produces a marvelous amount of stress.

  13. WORRY ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN'T CONTROL
      Worry about the stock market, earthquakes, the approching Ice Age - all the big issues.

  14. BECOME NOT ONLY A PERFECTIONIST, BUT SET IMPOSSIBLY HIGH STANDARDS ...
      ... and either beat yourself up, or feel guilty, depressed, discouraged, and/or inadequate when you don't meet them.

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