Illness and Disability Just as the mind can have profound effects on the body, the body can have an enormous impact on our emotions. Whenever we come down with the flu or pull a muscle, we feel under par. When the problem is more serious or persistent a chronic disease like diabetes, for instance, or a lifelong hearing impairment the emotional stress of con- ous stantly coping with it is even greater. A common source of stress for college stu- dents is a learning disability, which may affect one of every ten Americans. Most learning- disabled have average or above-average intel- ligence, but they rarely live up to their ability in school. Some have only one area of difficulty, such as nds reading or math. Others have problems with attention, re writing, communicating, reasoning, coordination, and be social skill Not all students with learning disabilities experience greater stress. In one in-depth study comparing 34 undergraduates with and without learning disabilities, the learning- disabled (LD students reported significantly fewer college stressors and demonstrated a higher need for achievement The LID students also scored significantly higher in resiliency and initiative in solving problems and working toward goals