Stress and anxiety over the difficulty of several college courses are experienced daily by college students. College may be different to new students who have not yet adapted to their new learning environment. These new students may be living miles away from their parents and have to contact them by telephone or via social media websites. Upcoming quizzes, tests, or exams as well as homework or assignment deadlines can trigger stress and anxiety in students. College students might have gotten through high school easily, but now might experience stress because of the difficulty of the tests and assignments. Students may experience financial stress, even those who get scholarships. They may also be responsible for their own finances, including paying the rent for housing as well as getting gas for their cars. Even as they make phone calls and file some paperwork by the tuition payment deadline, students still have to pay back student loans in the future. At a later point, the students will graduate, only to consider some decisions on whether to get a job or return to graduate school. These are some of the anxieties that almost eight in ten college students face daily according to a survey done by the American College Health Association in 2013.
Fortunately, there are several methods that can help alleviate academic related stress. Getting plenty of rest each night, mainly eight hours of sleep, can help maintain academic performance in students. There are several relaxation techniques including meditation for several minutes as well as positive thinking. These may help induce mindfulness, which can help reduce the effects of physical stress on mental health. Sometimes, talking with a counselor or a psychologist about stressful areas and mental problems can actually reduce stress as well. Finding new hobbies (including listening to calm music), joining any social club, or engaging in any extracurricular activity are few of the methods that can help improve the mental health of college students. Whether it’s adapting to the college environment, upcoming test dates, finances, or future plans after college, there are ways to alleviate several effects that arise from college stress.
Works Cited
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“Stress in College – Common Causes of Stress in College.” The American Institute of Stress, https://www.stress.org/college-students/.
“Stress.” NYU, https://www.nyu.edu/life/safety-health-wellness/live-well-nyu/priority-areas/stress.html.
“College Students: Coping with Stress and Anxiety on Campus.” American Psychiatric Association, 27 Aug 2015, https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/apa-blog/2015/08/college-students-coping-with-stress-and-anxiety-on-campus.
“Personal Counseling.” Berkshire Community College, http://www.berkshirecc.edu/student-life/personal-counseling/.
“Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior.” Mayo Clinic, 28 Apr 2016, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987?pg=2.
Nall, Rachel. “How Does Seven to Eight Hours of Sleep Affect Your Body?.” Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/science-sleep-why-you-need-7-8-hours-night.
Walsh, Kelle. “Using Mindfulness for Mental Health.” Mindful, 5 Oct 2017, https://www.mindful.org/mindfulness-mental-health/.
“Undergraduate Students Reference Group Executive Summary Spring 2013.” American College Health Association, http://www.acha-ncha.org/docs/ACHA-NCHA-II_UNDERGRAD_ReferenceGroup_ExecutiveSummary_Spring2013.pdf.
thank you for sharing