Stress seems to be more prevalent than alcohol on college campuses today. Although, stress and college have always gone hand in hand, what is it exactly that is causing it and how can students deal?
“My job stresses me out the most, I have to work over 20 hours a week because I have to pay for school and on top of that it’s hard taking 18 credit hours and trying to work and being in a sorority,” said Sara Taylor, a Junior Communications major.
Ava Khoshbin, a Freshman HDFS major, said that as far as what stresses her out it would be “The future, basically, school because it’s going to lead me to my future and if I fail then it’s like I’m going to fail my future.”
These stressful situations are shared among many college students and several of them deal with their stress through unsafe and unhealthy behaviors, such as drugs and alcohol, as a way of an escape. Even though, they may not realize it at the time that these behaviors could result in an unfortunate life changing experience.
How is it that students can release their stress but in a healthy way?
Suggestions that were made by students for other students included things such as, “Talking to a friend or someone close that can help them cope,” said Tony Losh, a Junior Business major.
Khoshbin, 19 from Lake Oswego said “Write down everything you need to do and take it on one by one, that’s the only thing that works for me.”
“Working out for sure, I should do it but I don’t, maybe that’s why I am so stressed all the time,” said Taylor, 20 from Lake Oswego.
According to an article, “Teens and Stress: Who Has Time For It?,” from the American Academy of Family Physicians, they suggest first recognizing that you are in fact stressed. Tips on how to tell are signs of:
- Feeling depressed, edgy, guilty, tired
- Having headaches, stomachaches, trouble sleeping
- Laughing or crying for no reason
- Blaming others for bad things that happen to you
- Only seeing the down side of a situation
- Feeling like things that you used to enjoy aren’t fun or are a burden
- Resenting other people or your responsibilities
Other useful tips on how to fight stress, provided by the American Academy of Family Physicians, include:
- Eating well-balanced meals on a regular basis
- Drinking less caffeine
- Getting enough sleep
- Exercising on a regular basis
- Making a list of things that are causing your stress
- Take control of what you can
- Give yourself a break
- Don’t commit yourself to things you can’t do or don’t want to do
- Find someone to talk to
By incorporating some or all of these tips into student’s daily lives they could significantly reduce the amount of college stress.
Although, “It’s obviously easier said than done,” said Whitney King, a Sophomore Business major.
