It’s your third all-nighter this week, and you still can’t seem to make sense of that chapter on magnetostatics. Not to mention rent is due next week, along with that doctor’s bill that you haven’t paid off, and that guy you’ve been seeing still hasn’t called you back — you thought he liked you.

While this may seem a little extreme, we all feel overwhelmed by the pressure of day-to-day life sometimes. School, relationships and financial concerns take their toll on our nerves, and at times we can feel completely out of control of our own lives. Whatever the cause of these stressors, we find ourselves out of focus, with sweaty palms and out of breath. Sometimes it seems as if all we can do is swear off academic life — or life in general — and devote ourselves fully to becoming moldy old cat women (or men).

High levels of stress can make juggling daily responsibilities difficult, but there are also some more serious side effects of stress that can be detrimental to your health. Headaches, chest or back pain and nausea are some of the more major short-term symptoms of extreme stress, and over long periods of time, these can lead to more severe health problems: high blood pressure, decreased immune system and even heart disease.

When we experience high levels of stress in our lives, sometimes it seems as if all we can do is buckle down and wait for the hardships to pass. But remember: If you can’t remove the stressor, at times you can remove yourself — or at least take a break.

Time after time, I see fellow students work themselves into tears of frustration over a confusing concept they just can’t seem to wrap their heads around. I find that even just a short 15-minute break can open the mind to legions of new ideas and techniques for managing responsibilities. You can use this time to take a short nap, drink a cup of tea (herbal, as the caffeine in black teas can make you feel even more jittery), play a few rounds of your favorite video game or read a chapter of a beloved book. Often, I find that removing yourself from the predicament, if only for a few moments, allows room for new and more creative ideas to emerge.

If all of those options seem a little dry, perhaps a few of the more hedonistic methods of managing stress would prove effective. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants, which, according to Science Daily, have been implicated in lowering blood pressure and decreasing stress. If you’re not in the mood for something chocolaty, other foods rich in antioxidants include blueberries, kiwis and red wine.

If you’re still not feeling any of these techniques, grab your significant other and get a room. Recent studies done by researchers at Lafayette College have linked kissing and other affectionate behaviors with stress reduction. Because physical intimacy initiates the release of oxytocin, a relaxing brain chemical, this is one of the most effective ways of calming nerves and taming tension, according to Science News.

So, whenever you begin to feel overwhelmed, just drink a cup of tea, play a round or two of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, or better yet, grab your significant other and a bar of chocolate — really, whatever strikes your fancy. But always remember to breathe. Get in touch with your inner Buddha and just breathe.

Reach columnist Emily McFadden at opinion@dailyuw.com.