Kelsey Gobber

Project Three: Case Study Analysis

Stress can be a real killer. In reviewing the issues Katya is facing, most of them can be

contributed to stress and stress management. She is an above average student with an GPA of

3.0., but struggles with her confidence. She develops great anxiety each semester because she

worries that she will not do well enough to maintain her scholarship. Such thinking has led to

an anxiety attack right before a big test making her anxiety worse and her feelings of holiness

become reality; she needs help.

A study done by The American Health Association found that 30% of students had stress

that affected their academic performance. In the same study 85.6 % felt overwhelmed by all

they had to do and 47.7% felt as if things were hopeless. I have felt similarities to Katya during

my time at school. Having to balance a full-time job and a full class load, things can get pretty

hectic. I was negative in my daily hours and usually my sleep was affected. I would have nights

when I slept on 2-3 hours, then made it to work for a full day, and continued to school till 9 pm

with exams. Those days were very difficult for me. In fact, those weeks I felt almost not real.

The lack of sleep, nutrition, and social life weighed heavy on my body. In December 2016, I

suffered from an anxiety attack so great, I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. Upon

arrival and after many tests, I was told it was all my own doing, that I had experienced a panic

attack. It was shocking to me at first, as what I thought was a panic attack was not what I was

experiencing. I later learned that its different for everyone and not every attack feels like a
heart attack; to me it was as if my body was shutting down. This was a huge wake up call for

me. I decided that night, that my health could no longer come second. I would have to find

ways to eliminate the stressors in my life which caused me these issues or I wouldnt be

successful.

In Katyas situation, there are a few recommendations to be made. With anxiety being

self-induced, the person must focus in on the things they can control; breathing. Katya would

benefit from learning mediation skills to offset each attack. Studies have shown that such

treatment lowers anxiety in the brain (Kalb, 2003). Some would also argue that in order to

maintain a healthy level of stress, one must put their academic position in its appropriate

place. Katya must find a healthy balance where this position doesnt become her one and only,

and there are other means of satisfying your self-expectations (De Tornyay, 1987). Another way

to maintain a healthy life with limited stress is actually a well-balanced diet. With the time

constraints students witness, many find themselves indulging in foods that are not healthy for

them. The lack of nutrient can increase anxiety and stress (Coping with Stress. Films Media

Group, 1998,). Alongside a healthy diet, regular exercise was shown to decrease stress and

lower anxiety (Coping with Stress. Films Media Group, 1998,). Katya must also develop effective

time management skills. College students report feelings of being pulled in every direction:

from their families, friends, school, and work. This can be overwhelming. Effective time

management will not only help manage your time, but in doing so, you can find ways to include

relaxation techniques and meditation, healthy eating habits and regular exercise (Coping with

Stress. Films Media Group, 1998,).

 We all have stress in our lives; some good and some bad. The important thing to

remember is how to recognize a situation that may cause distress and put it in its place. Find

ways to decrease such situations and develop an optimistic outlook in order to move past

them. Finally, one must discover ways to form realistic expectations in order to benefit in each

area of your life and limit feelings of being overwhelmed and helplessness.

REFECTION:

This was an interesting case study. So often we get busy in our own lives, trying to accompany

so many tasks at once. So often do we forget about our own needs like our physical and mental

needs. Avoiding these can have major consequences. This study helped to remind me the

importance of time management and problem solving. We must be able to recognize issues to

correct them before they turn into more. This project will help remind me in the future.
Citations:

Kalb, C., & Wingert, P. (2003, Feb 24). Coping with anxiety. Newsweek, 141, 51-52. Retrieved from
https://login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/214278522?accountid
=28371

de Tornyay, Rheba, EdD, RN, FAAN. (1987). Coping with anxiety and tension. Journal of Nursing
Education, 26(5), 181. Retrieved from
https://login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1026709900?accounti
d=28371

Coping with stress [Video file]. (1998). Retrieved August 6, 2017, from
https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=104026&xtid=11398