By Yesenia Santillan/reporter
Resistance causes stress, a SE counselor told NE students Oct. 16.
In Stress Relief Using Emotional Intelligence, Carisa Bustillos-Givens said by using emotional intelligence, students could decrease stress in their lives. She defined the impact stress has on student lives.
“Something that throws you off course,” she said.
Four core abilities help decrease stress, the first being self-awareness. By listening to the body and mind, people can then use methods such as yoga or tai chi to help them relax, Bustillos-Givens said.
Self-management also helps, she said. By learning to control feelings and behaviors, people can better deal with situations. Understanding the emotions of others and communicating one’s feelings is part of the other two core abilities: social awareness and relationship management that help decrease stress.
Bustillos-Givens said students can get other resources by visiting a TCC counselor. For instance, SE holds stress relief group meetings every other Tuesday for students who “just want to come in and learn strategies for stress relief,” she said.
Student Vernita Johnson said she came to find ways to reduce stress. One part was most interesting, she said.
“Learning how to calm down and talk about my feelings,” Johnson said.