“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Dickensian whimsy? Possibly, but to many college students around the world, it is a pretty accurate description of their freshman year. When students enter college for the first time, they are faced with many unfamiliar situations. A sudden sense of freedom, making new friends and financial and academic challenges can often be too much to handle. It is at this point that some students make the mistake of giving up entirely, often dropping out to avoid dealing with the mounting pressure. This shortsighted strategy only adds to the student’s stress level.
According to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, April is one of the most stressful months for college students. Historically, after midterm exams and before finals is when the academic pressure can be too overwhelming.
Social pressures are another factor affecting college students this time of year. While making their spring break plans, students may find themselves being pulled in multiple directions as trips, banquets and other extracurricular activities demand more of their time.
Upperclassmen are not immune to stress. Students preparing for graduation are often faced with worries about future job opportunities or getting into graduate school.
One of the major human motivators is healthy stress. It is this type of stress that gets you out of bed in the morning or helps you work up the nerve to ask someone on a date. If stress levels are too high or if it goes on for a long time, it can be unhealthy.
Too much stress can have a direct and devastating effect on the body’s immune system making the body vulnerable to colds, flu and viruses. The National Institute of Health estimates that people under chronic stress are three to five times more likely to become ill.
When stressed, the body produces chemicals that affect brain function. Lack of concentration and trouble sleeping can often be an indicator of stress, causing irritability and often depression. This depression often leads to alcohol and drug abuse and, in some extreme cases, suicide according to the NIH website.
Anxiety that often accompanies stress can lead to unhealthy eating habits. To cope with stress, some people overeat or don’t eat enough causing fluctuations in body weight.
According to Michelle Caruso, dean of Student Services, the first thing a student should do when they feel stress mounting is relax. “Try meditating, taking a hot bath or reading a fun book, something other than a text book.”
Organization can be the key to pulling the world into focus. Though it is best to start at the beginning of the semester, any time is the right time to get organized. Plan out the rest of the semester on a week-by-week basis, that way there are no surprises.
If any of these tips don’t work or if a student feels their world spiraling out of control, Nicholls offers a counseling center at 224 Elkins Hall in the Student Services suite. Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., the center offers both individual and group counseling.
“When a student comes in, we look at the history of the stress to determine if there are any patterns that are developing in how the student is dealing with their stress. We will then look at the current situation and decide whether the situation is purely related to school or if it is an outside factor. We can then develop a plan that will work,” Caruso said.
More information about the services offered by the counseling center can be found at http://nicholls.edu/counseling.
