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The Effectiveness Of Art Therapy And Guided Imagery In Reducing The Stress Of 3Rd Year And 4Th Year Bs Psychology Students Sy 2006-2007

Chapter I
The Problem and Its Background
Introduction
Stress is considered as one of the main reasons for the majority of school problems nowadays. The most frequent cause of stress in school is concern about academic performance and everything that goes with it, such as studying for exams, meeting the deadlines, maintaining average or excellent class standing, and getting high grades.   In accomplishing all these, the student must exert a lot of effort.   He must stay up late to finish his requirements, and review for his exams or even for graded recitations during discussions in class.   Although there are some cases wherein school stress does not come from trying to get good grades, for some, it is the lack of motivation to study hard. This lack of motivation to study hard results to anxiety and worrying: whether the student will be able to pass his subjects or not.   Consequently, the anxiety becomes the cause of stress.   Eventually, the stress will manifest itself in the failing health of the student, who feels and appears weary and fatigued.   When this happens, either the student can no longer stand to exert more effort, or can be least motivated to study hard.   Thus, the stress must at least be reduced, if not completely alleviated.
Art Therapy and Guided Imagery are some of the techniques of easing the stress and promoting a sense of peace and tranquility for students at a stressful time in school. In Art Therapy, students may express and understand their emotions, or convey their weariness through artistic expression. This creative activity elicits positive affect due to altered biological conditions. Likewise, Guided Imagery has been shown to promote wellness and optimize health. It operates in the mind-body principle, using one¡¯s thoughts and imagination to heal one¡¯s self, and to feel a lot better.   Furthermore, Guided Imagery serves as a communication between the imagined healing and the actual healing of the body, thus resulting to improved health....