Stress and Anxiety at College: What Is It?
Stress and anxiety is a significant burden on the psyche and body of any person, regardless of their strength or endurance.But this burden is especially heavy for adolescents who are only entering adulthood after high school graduation.
It is also where the problems for their health begin if not properly dealt with.
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| Dealing with Stress and Anxiety at College: 11 Tips that Work: eAskme |
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A couple of years ago, the American Health Association conducted a study called the National College Health Assessment.
Its results were shocking: 63% of college students in the United States at least once suffered a stressful condition, and 23% of students were treated by psychologists and even psychiatrists.
In the same year, the National Institute of Mental Health found that almost 32% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 suffer from nervous system disorders due to systematic stress.
Why College?
Why is this problem so serious for college students that not only academic success but also the mental and physical health of the student, and in worst-case scenarios his life, depends on its solution?
The answer is obvious: immediately after school, a teenager is torn out of the usual environment (parents, friends, classmates, neighbors) with the settled way of living. This fact alone is a cause of stress.
Well, and then the issues only grow, like a snowball.
Their list is extensive:
- A new, complex curriculum, an unusual teaching methodology
- A sharp increase in loads on the brain and the whole body
- The need to absorb a huge amount of unfamiliar and complex material
- New teachers (professors)
- New environment
- The need to share a room on campus with a stranger.
That is why both semesters of the first year of study are the most challenging and most dangerous in terms of stress and anxiety.
Resistance to stress in teenagers compared with adults is minimal. And students with low emotional intelligence are especially vulnerable to it.
What Happens to First-Year College Students?
Some problems necessarily give rise to others: challenges associated with studying and staying in a new society can cause problems with mental and physical wellbeing.Here is just a shortlist of possible issues:
- sleep disturbance;
- improper nutrition (hence gastrointestinal problems);
- a chronic state of moral discomfort and loss of pleasure from life;
- sudden mood swings (anger, irritation) with the transition to chronic depression;
- escape from reality with the help of life-threatening means (alcohol, drugs, gambling, "going into parallel reality" using the latest technology).
Failing to resolve these problems in the early stages often ends badly for a college student.
But there Is a Solution to the Problem!
The situation is not hopeless.By following simple steps, a student can deal with it on his own or help can be provided by direct contact with specialists, parents and friends, auto-training, and specialized sites on the Internet.
There are also a lot of tips of all kinds to help students cope with stress on a daily basis.
Let's try to single out the main tips from the total mass.
11 Tips that Work
- Learn to calm yourself.
- Focus your attention even on small successes and reward yourself for it.
- Learn to relax (listen to the music that calms you, have a nap, watch something, or simply lay down for a while).
- Learn the simplest meditation (not necessarily yoga or other oriental exoticism).
- Do not keep negative emotions within yourself. Discuss problems with yourself out loud - this helps relieve internal stress. You can also write them down on a paper and then throw it away if you feel uncomfortable talking with yourself. And if you are struggling with alcoholism, be sure to connect with facilities for professional help.
- Simplify complex things (do not be afraid of complex tasks and assignments, break them down into simpler and more understandable ones, and reward yourself after you complete each).
- Don't hesitate to ask for help with your homework, especially if it is your first year. You can get a tutor, ask your classmates, or even look for a qualified essay writers service to help you out with research and other academic papers.
- Accustom yourself to self-organization and order (write down all important events, plans, and assignments in a notebook, or download a scheduling app and plan your day. Try always to follow it).
- Try to give up bad habits or do not get used to what is harmful to your health.
- Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle (regular 7-8 hour sleep, doing some sports, properly resting, healthy eating). Healthy sleep is the key to a cheerful mood in the morning! And at least a 10-minute run is a guarantee of good physical state for the whole day! Proper nutrition is a guarantee of health and a chance for longevity!
- And, most importantly: begin to develop an optimistic outlook on events and the environment. Try to always think positively and look for a bright side of certain things, situations, etc.
Final Words:
Do not doubt that you can cope with stress yourself, and in case you can't do it alone, the college psychologist and parents are always there for you! Don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it.The most important thing: do not forget that you are not alone, even if at the moment you are alone.
There are always people who are ready to help you!
If you still have any question, feel free to ask me via comments.
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