Stress, anxiety nothing new for college students.

By: Margaret Foran

Posted: 10/23/08

College, school, tests, procrastination, time, work, love, money, hobbies, worries. Everyday college students scrounge around school trying to get their priorities in check. Missed class once this week, can't find a computer to print for class that is in five minutes. Papers fall all over the floor, late to class, aaahhh!

Stress and anxiety can overwhelm and crowd your life, but there are several ways one can approach school differently.

College students begin to experience a stressful lifestyle due to new living environments. Moving away from home, becoming independent and experiencing new routines can put a lot of pressure on a student.

Megan Hall, a GSC Oconee student, experienced major changes once she began her college life. "My classes are so spread out during the day. I am not on a routine schedule like I was throughout grade school," stated Hall. "I am doing everyday things that I am used to my mom doing for me." Going to the grocery store and cooking dinner can take precious time away from homework and study time.

Ask any college student what they are most stressed about and you will hear everyone answer school. But what about school stresses each one of those students the most? According to M. Doc Hawley, GSC Oconee Counselor, "a large percent have anxiety; general, social, test, math."

Every person experiences a different level of stress, but according to Hawley, "the thoughts create anxiety; stress producing thoughts are the number one problem."

According to Hawley, telling yourself negative thoughts, such as "you have to get HOPE back," can create stress. The brain stores these thoughts in the Limbic system, emotional center. Your brain automatically tells the amygdala, "fear center," that you are afraid. The main cortisol sends out stress hormones. These negative thoughts turn off logical thinking, abstract thinking and problem solving. The result is a bad grade. Hawley stated, "The more emotion, the more it stays."

Hall confessed that sometimes she is too tired to go to school and will skip class. "Sometimes I say that I just can't do it! I don't feel like doing it! I just want to give up! I am too stressed from the class before," said Hall. These thoughts will cause Hall to fall behind in her class, which can lead to further stress.

According to the 2002 American College Health Association survey results, 54.6 percent of students felt things were hopeless, 66.2 percent felt overwhelmed and 66 percent felt exhausted within the last school year.
Hall noted that she is stressed in school because she wants to make sure "to get projects done on time or make sure I get accurate notes during a lecture." These thoughts of perfectionism can drive a student to feelings of stress and anxiety because they feel overwhelmed.

Many students think they can cure these feelings of stress and anxiety by using drugs such as marijuana, alcohol and anti-depressants.

There are many other ways a student can fix these feelings of stress and anxiety. Hawley noted that "untreated stress starts to affect decision making. Some may self medicate with smoking weed or drinking more; that will cause memory loss. They begin to avoid class, lose track of assignments and get themselves in a great hole and withdraw."

This is the wrong plan to feel relief. GSC Oconee has an onsite counseling service which has proven to be very effective. Hawley will hear the students' perspective on what they define the problem as. "I see their perspective and we can find a way to feel relief," she says.

Hawley has several solutions she offers students who are looking for a cure to stress or anxiety. The biofeedback program allows students to visualize what causes their stress.

Your finger is placed on a monitor that graphs the heart rate variability patters. The computer screen then shows an air balloon and a scale from red to green. If the balloon is not moving and the scale is red, then you are stressed or anxious. The steps to relief are to take deep breaths then visualize something that makes you happy. Tell yourself positive thoughts and you will instantly see results.

Hawley has seen the biofeedback program show instant progress. "When stress is lowered, academic performance improves and reading comprehension increases an average of 14 percent. That is a letter grade and a half! And math increases an average of 35 percent," said Hawley.

Hawley suggests yoga to others because it is known to be very relaxing to the mind and body. "Rubber Sole Yoga. It is for a donation of only $3," mentioned Hawley.

Sharing your feelings with others can get things off your chest. The support of others will give you a boost to feel better. "You don't want to talk with someone who has a negative outlook," said Hawley.

Hawley knows the outcome of dealing with stress. "Absolutely, students can feel much better and have a completely different experience in school and in relationships if they manage stress effectively," said Hawley. "The problem isn't the stress; the problem is their reaction."

Students are welcome to make an appointment with one of the GSC Oconee counselors. You can try the biofeedback program or just talk with someone for inspiration. Either way, you can go to the GSC Oconee website to make an appointment with one of the counselors.