Stress in itself is a useful thing. Evolution has endowed people with it as a tool that helps to shake things up, concentrate, and mobilize resources to face difficulties. However, this “doping” must be strictly dosed. If you have to stress for a long time or intensely, not only the psycho-emotional state can suffer, but also mental performance and physical health. This happens to many students during the exam session. Let’s talk about how to help the nervous system not to break down and what medications can be used. Daytime drowsiness, nighttime insomnia, everything irritates, there is distraction, constant fatigue, nothing is enjoyable, frequent headaches are typical signs that stress has become too much and is out of control. In physiology, this state is called distress. Even a single episode negatively affects the state of body and mind, and if nervous overstrain occurs repeatedly, the consequences will be even more destructive. What stress should be considered too strong? There is no universal measure because everyone reacts differently to life events. Take the exam session, for example: for some, it is a routine event, and they are not scared even by the prospect of being expelled for failing an exam, while others have already exhausted their nervous system resources during the semester in seminars. You need to focus on your own state and symptoms. Others around you may also notice and say that something is wrong with you. Let’s try to combat stress without medication. Here there will be no banal advice about walking in the park, sleep, physical activity, daily routine, and various relaxation techniques. This has been said many times, and the information is easy to find. We will share some less obvious methods: 1. Stock up on chewing gum. Some studies show that chewing gum reduces anxiety and stress levels. To varying degrees, but it helps most people. It is unclear how this method works: whether due to the contraction of chewing muscles increasing blood flow to the brain, the pleasant taste of the gum, menthol, or glucose. 2. Use your sense of smell. Pleasant smells contribute to reducing stress, and this is scientifically proven. 3. Communicate. This helps to feel that you are not alone, that there are people with similar feelings around you. Your classmates also haven’t managed to learn everything, they are nervous before the exam, afraid of strict teachers. Discuss it, encourage each other, and everyone will feel better. Offer help to others. Reducing stress is helped not only by the support received but also when a person does something good for others. Studies show that this reduces the number of negative emotions and enhances the sense of well-being. For example, if classmates ask for explanations during the exam session, this is a good way to improve your own psycho-emotional state. And at the same time, to review the material. 4. Sit up straight. This hack demonstrates how much the position of the body and the redistribution of muscle tone can influence the psycho-emotional state. Keeping your back straight helps maintain high self-esteem, reduce negative emotions, and improve mood. Moreover, it increases the chance of making the desired impression on the examiner. 5. Aromatherapy helps with stress. There are many ways to combat stress and its consequences. Usually, it is worth starting with the simplest and most accessible, and if they do not help, move on to something more complex and potent. If you feel that you cannot cope on your own, do not hesitate to consult a specialist.