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Pop psychology teaches us that admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. So say it along with me. Hello, my name is (insert name here). It is finals week, and I am stressed.

We all have heard of the many ways in which we can reduce our stress. The majority of us know the different strategies for stress management, ranging from the physical (such as stress balls) to the mental (like picturing a calming getaway).

But instead of reminding you of these already well-known techniques, I would like to discuss the benefits of a technique that is usually regarded in a negative light. I would like to suggest that students generally have a very effective defense mechanism for dealing with stress that doesn’t get enough credit. In fact, it’s a defense mechanism we all know and utilize.

I call this defense mechanism “justification.” It’s the thing that keeps many college students sane.

Think back to the number of times you have walked down Bruin Walk and heard someone telling their version of a very common story among college students: that they should have and meant to study more, that they tried, but they were distracted by something or other, and thus had to cram last minute for an important final.

Before you roll your eyes at such students – and I’m not ashamed to say I’m usually one of them – realize that they are involved in a defense mechanism that allows them to come to terms with their feelings of stress.

Stress-management services categorize three main genres of stress-coping skills. The first category is called “action-oriented skills,” in which the person tackles stress at its foundation by changing the circumstances leading to it. In our finals example, this would probably be the equivalent of dropping out of a class. Studying ahead of time would probably fit under this category as well, but might not be realistic given how quickly the quarter system moves.

The second category is called “emotionally orienting skills.” These are skills that help you acknowledge that some form of stress is inevitable and that you have no control over the situation. Instead, you make an effort to change your interpretation of the stressful situation.

The third category is called “acceptance-oriented skills,” in which you realize you have no situational or emotional control over the stress and instead go into a sort of survival mode.

These last two categories are where justification – and the procrastination that leads to justification – comes into play. At a certain point, every student realizes that, as sad as it is, he or she has to do some cost-benefit analysis. Priority lists must be made in the mind – or sometimes on paper – as to what class needs the most attention. Thus, one final is studied for the most, while another may be wholly neglected.

Cost-benefit analysis also must be conducted for the sake of emotional well-being. For example, I went out to watch “Ocean’s 12” with friends on Saturday night. In terms of workload, I couldn’t afford the two and a half hours off, and neither could some of my friends. But we justified our actions with the idea that we had worked all day, and were so restless that we would not have shown effective studying for the rest of the night.

Personally, I came back from the movie in high spirits and thoroughly refreshed. The movie was a lot more fun because a lot of students were there, and we let out our pent-up emotions by being overenthusiastic during the previews and the start of the movie.

On my way back up to my apartment, I observed many other students engaged in parties and similar acts of, well, fun.

All of us fun-loving students have accepted our lack of control over finals week and the stress that comes with it. We’re in survival mode – and we’ve emotionally oriented ourselves through justification so we are able to enjoy the fun we create. And that keeps the stress levels down a little so we don’t burn out.

Of course, as with everything, use justification in moderation. Otherwise, it’s a good system. More people should start realizing that it’s an entirely effective manner by which a majority of us protect our sanity.

I’m not ashamed to say, “Hello, my name is Noor Hashem. It is finals week, and I am less stressed than I could be.”

Hashem would really like a human stress ball for finals. Apply for the position at nhashem@media.ucla.edu.