STRESS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS

There is no doubt that college life can be very stressful. Sometimes parents, professors and others tend to downplay the effects of stress on college students. Competing for grades, the need to perform, relationships, finances, career choice, and other aspects of the college environment cause stress. Before we can get a handle on stress we need to understand that stress is only harmful when it is excessive. Much of the stress that we all experience is helpful and stimulating. The extra burst of adrenaline that helps you finish your final paper, perform well in sports, or meet any challenge is positive stress. The challenges of life tend to be stressful and an attempt to avoid stress completely would lead to a rather boring existence. The problem comes when you experience too much stress.Although some stress reactions are part of deeper and more serious emotional problems, many are not, and can be handled with relatively simple counseling and stress-management techniques. You can use the following guidelines to help manage your stress:

Develop a balanced lifestyle: Your overall level of health affects everything in your life, including how you react to stress. Someone who is always feeling overwhelmed, eats poorly, and doesn't get enough sleep (a description of many students) usually has a limited ability to cope with stressful events. You need to pay attention to your own well being. The right balance of sleep, food, exercise, work, school, and recreation is crucial. Organization and time management are important. Many people are in a constant state of trying to "catch up"-they find themselves rushing and hurrying from one activity to another, always racing with the clock and never getting on top of things.

Gain perspective by discussing problems: It is easy to get caught up in a problem or a narrow view of something you are doing, and to lose perspective and feel that you are a failure or that a roadblock is a catastrophe. Discussing your problems with a trusted, empathetic friend can help you to gain new perspective and allow you to move out of what might seem like an isolated and negative internal world. The act of verbalizing your concerns and putting them together will often help give you a sense of control.

Specific relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques are extremely valuable tools in stress management. Meditation, self-hypnosis, and deep muscle relaxation make it possible for you to spend a short period of time in a state of profound relaxation. In this state both the body and the mind are at rest and the outside world is blocked out for a period of time. The practice of any relaxation techniques on a regular basis can provide a wonderful calming and relaxing feeling that seems to have a lasting effect for many people, replenishing the energy level and ability to cope with the external world.

Clarify your values and develop a sense of meaning in your life: Stress is often caused by general unhappiness and a sense of aimlessness or lack of purpose. People sometimes make choices and live lifestyles that really don't fit them. A student may be studying biology when he or she really wants to be a musician, or he or she may have a wide circle of friends, but not really have an intimate, fulfilling relationship. Clarifying your values and deciding what you really want out of your life can help you deal with stress.

College can be a wonderful, exciting, and rewarding time in your life; however, new experiences can bring about unanticipated stress and anxiety. Should this happen to you, Kean's Counseling Center is an excellent resource. The services that they offer include individual and group counseling, drug and alcohol counseling and education, and psychiatric consultation. Whether you need help dealing with a serious problem or just want to talk, the Counseling Center is there for you. Students come to the Counseling Center with a variety of concerns, including roommate and friendship conflicts, homesickness, academic difficulties, depression, self-esteem, anxiety, family problems, drug and alcohol concerns, eating disorders, sexual assault or date rape, and identity concerns. Located in Downs Hall room 127, the Counseling Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Call (908) 737-4850 to make an appointment. In the event of emergencies after business hours, please contact the Campus Police at 911.