Coping with the Stress of College Life

What is Stress?

Stress is a normal part of everyday life. We usually feel stressed when we have to adjust our plans or expectations or make changes in our lives. Typically, we think of stress as coming from negative situations, but we can feel stressed when good things happen too like starting a new job or getting married. When we're in a stressful situation, our point of view can make a difference. For example, one student may see failing an exam as a sign to get tutoring, while another may see the same situation as a personal blow to self-esteem. Imagine yourself responding in each of these ways. If you take on the first point of view, you might feel a little stressed, if you take on the second, you would probably feel very stressed. So keep in mind that how much stress you feel has more to do with what you tell yourself about the situation, than the situation itself.

 

How is College Stressful?

College life can be stressful because there are constant demands for adjustment and change. You may feel stressed by unexpected academic challenges that force you to adjust your academic plans, change your major, or even delay your graduation. Or, you may feel stressed by personal challenges as you take on more responsibilities like providing for yourself (an maybe your family). Juggling school, work and family responsibilities can feel pretty stressful, so keep in mind that it's easier to succeed in college when you plan ahead and manage time effectively. There can be other kinds of stress too. Because our campus is so diverse, you may find yourself meeting very different people with different values and wonder about whether you belong when you get involved in new situations.

Your college years are also a time of increasing independence. You may begin to make more and more decisions for yourself, like when you will study and how often you will take time out to be with friends. There may also be times when you may feel pressured to fit in. For example, if you drink alcohol, you may find yourself feeling pushed to drink more than you want to and have to decide how to stand up to the pressure. You may also have to make decisions about sex (e.g., you might feel pushed to have sex with someone before you are ready) and need to find ways to handle that pressure too.

When you feel stressed, reaching out for support can help you to cope with or resolve your problems. In the past that support might have come from supportive people, familiar places or special things that provided comfort . But now that you are in college, you may find that those supportive people, places and things that used to help may not be available in the same way. For example, you may be too far away or find that the same people that used to offer help and support don't understand your college experience. For example, you may find that your family still expects you to contribute in the same way even though you don't have as much time and that they just don't understand the demands of college. Either situation can leave you feeling isolated and alone, so developing a local support network while you are in college can help.

 

How Can Stress Affect You?

Stress can affect you physically, emotionally, behaviorally, or mentally.

Physical effects of stress: When you are physically affected by stress, your body pumps more adrenalin, which means that you may notice more muscle tension; also you may feel yourself breathing more quickly and feel your heart beating faster. If that's happening, build in time to relax or to do something physical. You'll probably feel better.

Emotional effects of stress: When you are affected emotionally by stress, you may feel more anxious or easily irritated. You might also feel sad or depressed. Some people even feel too good or have too much energy, making it difficult to slow down. Increasing awareness of your mood states can help to prevent your moods from affecting your productivity and relationships. So, if you notice changes in mood, try talking with someone you trust or talk with a counselor at Psychological Services. Talking can help you to understand your feelings, lead to solutions, and help you to keep your life in balance.

Behavioral effects of stress: Stress can also affect your behavior in different ways. For instance, you may notice times when you are less coordinated than usual, or times when you are having difficulty sleeping. Sometimes, people may notice that your behavior is strange and tell you that the things you are doing or saying don't make sense. If you feel that your behavior is being affected, develop strategies to reduce your stress. Talking with a counselor can help you to develop you own personalized plan for success.

Mental Effects of stress: Stress can also affect your ability to think. For example, you may find that it's more difficult to concentrate, learn new information, or to solve problems when you are stressed. If you notice these changes, schedule a break from your studies. Reduce your stress by getting some exercise, listening to relaxing music, or taking a hot shower. Then come back to your work and try again. If you're still having trouble, try talking with a counselor. Talking can help you to understand what is affecting you and how to fix the problem.

 

What Can You Do to Manage Stress?

If you are feeling isolated, you can lower your stress level by getting involved in campus activities. Joining groups and organizations can help you to meet like-minded people. When you are feeling stressed for other reasons, learn to relax! Relaxation techniques like deep-breathing, meditation, or yoga are effective ways to relieve stress. You might also try walking, running, biking, working out, or playing a sport. Exercise is a natural way to help you to feel better.

Managing your time can also help. If you are overwhelmed because you have a lot to do in a limited amount of time, start using a planner. Block out time commitments that you already know about like your class time, homework time and scheduled work time, for each week of the month. Then, see how many of your hours are free each week. Once you know how much time is available, you can say yes to extra things that you'd like to do, and keep yourself from getting overextended. Also, remember to plan in some time for yourself to do something fun or even nothing at all. Having some time for yourself to relax or use as you like can make a difference in reducing stress.

 

How Do You Eliminate Stress?

Stress is a side effect of life. As much as you might like to get rid of all stress, that's really not possible for most people. However, you can learn to manage stress in a better way so that you are less affected by it. Try using coping strategies like getting regular exercise, practicing deep breathing, and practicing meditation. Strategies like these can help to relieve the pressure that builds when you're stressed, and help your body and mind return to a more relaxed state. Also, make sure that you get enough sleep. When you are tired, chances are that your stress level will be higher.

Also, remember to manage your time effectively. Start using a planner to schedule your time; and prioritize your time commitments. Scheduling and prioritizing can turn what may seem like an overwhelming semester into a manageable one. And, keep in mind that when your situation seems unusually challenging, your point of view has an influence on how much stress you feel. So if you tend to take a dark view, like seeing disaster before you see options for resolving the problem, remember that your situation may not be as bad as you think. Remember to ask yourself, "What's the worst that could happen?" This could give you an opportunity to step back from your situation, get a new perspective, and relax a little. Chances are that you will find that the situation is not as bad as it first seemed.

Finally, keep in mind that one of the best ways to cope with stress is to talk over your problems with a good friend or counselor. Talking about your concerns can relieve tension and provide an opportunity to develop insight into your situation. The staff at Psychological Services is here to help, so stop in during our walk-in hours We'll be glad to see you.